David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is the issue. If I cannot get a response, how can a member of the public expect a response? We need such a facility. We need to have these engaging with local elected representatives. One could probably make a telephone call to the Pope easier than one would to some of the staff in Iarnród Éireann and other places. We need such a facility.

When this agency comes together, it needs to look, for instance, at the town of Cobh in my area. There are 14,000 or 15,000 people living on the island but with the recent floods, it was cut off. The R624 was flooded on both sides and emergency services could not get in. This new national agency needs to look at that. The N25, from Midleton to Youghal, needs to be upgraded. There were plans to upgrade it in the past and it has not happened. We need, at least, to start the plans at some stage. Earlier mention was made of the road to Ringaskiddy. The road to Aghada, where there are two power stations, the oil refinery etc., also needs to be looked at and, possibly, needs to be taken over as a national road by this authority.

As I am on my feet, I will mention local roads. This authority will look after national roads and secondary roads, but what about local roads? I refer to roads in the countryside that in many areas are full of potholes. Such roads are causing frustration for those who have paid their road taxes when they hit a pothole full of water and hundreds or thousands of euro in damage is done to their car. I suggest that this new agency should have some role. I note that already the NRA is involved; it has a research strategy. We should also be looking at these minor roads because they are causing terrible frustration and additional costs. I heard one of my colleagues mention earlier about taking water off roads, and that is crucially important. We need to treat this seriously. Could the Minister of State, Deputy Kelly, tell us is there any way that even local people themselves could be allowed fill potholes-----

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