Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach said that the money does not come from Minister Donohoe's Department as such but that it comes from the taxpayers. The people of Cork South West have been taxpayers for many, many decades and have got absolutely nothing back when the amount of tax they have paid for their roads is taken into consideration. I do not believe that the Taoiseach fully realises the crisis that has hit west Cork roads. In the leading article in the Southern Star newspaper in west Cork last week, it was reported that in 2015 there were claims by motorists for damage to vehicles from bad roads in County Cork amounting to a total of €30,000. In 2016, the figures obtained show that this had increased to €46,000 in one year. I have no doubt that the figures, when released, for 2017 and 2018 will show a dramatic increase because roads are continuing to deteriorate.

Up to 80% do not claim for damage done to their cars. Last week, the Minister, Deputy Shane Ross, made €417 million available nationally, €44 million of which will come to Cork county, but it is estimated that County Cork will need over €500 million to bring the roads up to an acceptable standard. What was given by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is less than 10% of what is required. This is a genuine crisis throughout rural Ireland and west Cork and I call on the Taoiseach again to examine it as a matter of real urgency and to increase the funding made available to the local authority.

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