Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The road situation has reached a critical point in my county. Whether they be from Lorrha to Carrick-on-Suir or from Ballingarry to Solohead, the roads are in a dreadful state. Public meetings are being called in all areas across the county where people are venting their frustration at us as politicians for our failure to deliver a reasonable road structure. The Minister does not realise the anger and frustration in rural Ireland at the state of roads. There are 5,493 km of road in my native county and €17 million is provided to maintain them. I have been reliably informed by engineers that it will take 40 years to carry out maintenance on those roads on a rotational basis. In respect of those roads that have been done in the past year or two, can the Minister imagine having to wait another 35 years before they will be maintained? It is further proof of the failure of the Government's policy on roads over the past seven years.

I put it to the Minister that the evidence is clear. We cannot continue on this current path. The Minister must work with Fianna Fáil and accept our motion. More importantly, I urge the Taoiseach to accept and understand the reality of this Dáil. He will not be allowed to plough on as though there is no major crisis with our roads. We do not intend to accept that the people in rural Ireland must accept the state of the roads on which they must travel. We will not accept it, we will force the Government to take action and we will force proper investment in the roads of rural Ireland.

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