Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

Does the Minister agree that we cannot continue to ask our local engineers, whether in Tipperary, Cork or anywhere else, to continue to repair our roads? We are now coming into the busiest part of the year for tourism and agriculture-related business, with people moving out of their houses. The number of staff in the county councils has been cut by nearly a third relative to what they should be. Does the Minister not believe it is time for him, along with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, to give the authority to county councils to hire people who are lying idle with their machines for a six-month period to repair all the roads at the one time? I am hoping the Minister will provide the investment because the current arrangements amount to false economy. Without the manpower it cannot be done.

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