Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

After a long, hard battle, the Government has thankfully agreed, in the programme for Government, to deliver the re-introduction of local improvement schemes and a new drainage scheme. This is a most welcome development. Local improvement schemes were suspended more than five years ago, which meant that no local authority in Ireland could offer people living on a road on which there might be from two to 20 houses the opportunity of having a local improvement scheme. These schemes are most important. The new drainage scheme and the method for delivering it is also most important. There is no sense in tarring a road unless the water can be drained from it. I am very thankful to the Government for including this new, imaginative scheme in the programme for Government. What commitment will the Taoiseach give for the introduction of these schemes? I also include Údarás na Gaeltachta roads. There was great delivery of funds through Roinn na Gaeltachta over many years whereby roads in the Gaeltacht were tarred.

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