Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom mo thacaíocht a thabhairt don rún seo agus mo buíochas a ghabháil le Fianna Fáil, go háirithe Teachta Robert Troy, as ucht an rún seo a chur os comhair na Dála. Is rún thar a bheith tábhachtach agus praiticiúil é. Cuirtear in iúl leis an rún seo an rud atá ráite ag an gcomisiún náisiúnta a dhéanann monatóireachta ar stádas na mbóithre sa tír, is é sin, chomh dona is atá sé maidir le bóithre réigiúnacha. Tá droch-chaoi ar 70% de na bóithre. Tá 10% de na bóithre áitiúla thíos freisin agus droch-chaoi orthu. Ní hamháin sin ach cuireann an rún in iúl an méid atá ráite sa Chlár do Rialtas Comhpháirtíochta. Tá sé geallta sa chlár sin go mbeidh méadú sa bhuiséad caipitil suas go dtí 50%, méadú nach bhfuil tugtha fós. Chomh maith leis sin, tá foráil praiticiúil sa rún seo go mbeidh freagra dó seo laistigh de trí mhí agus go mbeidh fócas ar na húdaráis áitiúla maidir le cé chomh héifeachtach atá siad ag bainistiú airgid. Cuirim fáilte roimh an rún agus níl drogall ar bith agam mo thacaíocht a thabhairt dó. Ar ndóigh, d'fhreastal mé féin agus comhghleacaí an Aire, an Teachta Seán Kyne, ar chruinniú ar an gCeathrú Rua Dé hAoine seo caite. Ba é bun agus barr na hoíche sin ná an droch-chaoi uafásach atá ar na bóithre i gConamara. Bhí siad caint faoi sheirbhísí otharchairr freisin, ach bhí an droch-chaoi atá ar na bóithre ar bharr an liosta. Chuir bean amháin in iúl gur chaill sí lá oibre uilig. Ní raibh sí in ann an bóthar a úsáid de bharr na tuilte agus, i ndáiríre, an bóthar ag titim as a chéile.

Chomh maith leis sin, tá ceist Bhóthar Dhoirefhearta ardaithe go mion minic agam sa Seomra seo. Táim ag scríobh litreacha ó bhliain ó shin ag iarraidh airgid maidir le caoi a chur ar Bhóthar Dhoirefhearta. Is bóthar tábhachtach é taobh leis an gCeathrú Rua. Baineann na busanna scoile - más féidir leis an Aire éisteacht liom - úsáid as an mbóthar sin agus tá sé dáinséarach. Tá litir faighte agam ó innealtóir sinsearach. Athróidh mé ar ais go Béarla mar níl na cluasáin ar an Aire Stáit. I will change back to English for the Minister of State. I will read from a letter that the senior engineer has written from the county council. He was appealing to us to put pressure on the Government for funding. The Minister of State will be able to hear this now i mBéarla. The letter states that Galway County Council is aware of the effects that recent severe weather events have had on the road network in Galway, including the R336 road. An increased level of funding is urgently required for works to the road network by the council. The engineer said he would be grateful for our help in highlighting this issue. Council staff are doing their best under difficult circumstances and budgetary restraints.

On the day I was at the meeting in Carraroe I read the Irish Times. I would not say that it was to my amusement - chuir sé ionadh orm - but I read that the economy is again growing at one of the fastest rates in Europe. I was out in Connemara where practically every road is in trouble. People told stories of the difficulties they are experiencing in living, working and keeping a car on the road.

I will not use all my time because the points have been made repeatedly by other Deputies. Anyway, I am pleased that the Government is accepting the motion. I am pleased that the Government is not contesting it. I am pleased that the Government is complying completely with the three-month review and that the Minister will come back to the House.

If we are seriously interested in a balanced economy in Dublin and the rural areas, then the most basic requirement is that our roads are useable, especially in areas where the public transport is not up to scratch notwithstanding the efforts of the drivers of the buses. For example, in Connemara one bus goes from Carna to Galway and one goes back from Galway to Carna. There are many other examples of this limited public bus service. Consequently, people are utterly reliant on cars and a road system that is not fit for purpose in the 21st century. Mar a dúirt mé, níl drogall ar bith agam mo thacaíocht a thabairt don rún seo.

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