Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister, but if he wants to go beyond what we are discussing and mention broadband, an independent assessment has shown what Roscommon has in that regard. The facts are there for anyone to see; this is not me saying it. The assessment was conducted across Ireland. Our area is deplorable.

Councils have been awaiting money for a while. It is good that they have the money to do the works. Maybe someone overlooked something, but I am speaking as someone who has worked in various parts of Ireland. When the Minister was in opposition, he spoke at several meetings that I attended at which he referred to various counties where people were more prone to receiving penalties from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Will the Minister use as much of his discretion as possible or work constructively with the councils? I welcome his statement that he has told them to go as far as they can. I am making my request not for the benefit of the councils, me or the Minister, but for the local communities and people who underwent torture during the year. When a machine is on site, surely there are ways for common sense to prevail and the work to continue over a day or two. The Minister and I have seen how round bales of straw can be packed together in a drain or on a river. This method was even used in Connemara. It is acceptable in places. Solutions can be found if people work together, but that will not be the case if a machine is just stopped flat on the ground.

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