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

This is directed at the Taoiseach and the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Ring, in particular. They will be aware that no funding was available for local improvement scheme roads from 2011 to 2016. I always would be of the contention that the most important stretch of road in the country for a person living in a rural area is the stretch from his or her own house to the next main road because, even if it is a private road, wherever a person is going he or she will have to travel that road anyway. For those five years, no funding was made available to the local authorities. During the 70 or 72 days of the discussions for the programme for Government, I raised this issue continuously, as did others, because it was so important to have it included in the programme. I welcome that the Government kept its commitment - there is no better person to fight for and secure funding at budget meetings for these roads than the Minister, Deputy Ring - and I welcome the funding that was allocated, which was approximately €10 million. In my county, it made an awful difference and was most welcome.

Today, I seek two things. The first is to ensure there is an increase in the funding because it is money extremely well spent. It goes back into our local economies. It is evenly divided among local authorities and has a local impact on rural areas as, given there is nothing worse than travelling a bad road, it improves people's quality of life. If a person and all his or her family members have to travel a bad road every day, or perhaps five, ten or 15 times a day, it means much to have the road improved. One could not get over how much it means. The money strengthens local areas as it is extra work for local authority workers. It is money for those supplying the materials and the work that needs to be carried out. It is a win-win every way.

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