Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the programme for Government, the Taoiseach informed me six weeks ago that the N4 and the N5, which are national primary routes, would be included in the national plan. The Taoiseach also said that, with the economy improving, he hoped that more money would be available for national secondary and regional roads. Last Monday, in the county in which I live, Roscommon, Transport Infrastructure Ireland informed the local authority of a 17% to 30% cut in the maintenance grant for national primary and national secondary roads. I do not expect the Taoiseach to make an announcement now but I ask that he speak with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport today in order to get this cut reversed as quickly as possible. The cut in question will have consequences for safety on and other issues relating to those roads. I wonder if the same is happening in other counties. It is a massive cut. Earlier, we heard from my party leader about the cut in Garda overtime. Obviously, the position in that regard will be rectified. These cuts to the roads budget also need to be rectified or they will have consequences going forward. I do not expect the Taoiseach to make an announcement today but it is important that he should deal with the matter.

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