Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge and am very aware, as are all Fine Gael councillors and Deputies, that the capital budget for local and regional roads is still recovering. There is a huge amount of work to be done. It is still recovering after the economic crash. That is why the new partnership Government will increase the budget for this infrastructure very dramatically by 50% in the years ahead and as the national finances improve. That is the reality of the commitment that has been made. As the Deputy will be aware, the capital plan provides €6 billion for investment in the roads network in the period to 2022, with €4.4 billion earmarked for the maintenance and strengthening of the existing and extensive networking throughout the country. A sum of €1.6 billion has been earmarked for new projects. Clearly, there is an acceptance of the point that the Deputy is making and a reflection of that in the capital budget for the coming year and the years ahead. Some of the funding has been announced already. The approach has been to include a mix of projects throughout the country to address particular constraints, including bottlenecks and port connectivity.

The transport element of the capital plan is based on a gradual build-up in capital funding for the road network from - I agree with the Deputy - what is currently a relatively low base towards the levels needed to carry out the kind of maintenance and improvement works the Deputy refers to. It is well recognised at Government level that there are serious problems. The money is being invested. In Tipperary, I take the Deputy's point that there were reductions over the years. We have to remember why. It was because we were in the middle of an economic crash and recession. However, in January this year, for example, regional and local allocations were announced. A sum of €15.9 million was allocated to Tipperary County Council to deal with some of the issues the Deputy has mentioned. Clearly, further investment is needed. It has been allocated in the capital fund and will address a range of issues in an ongoing manner in the period ahead.

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