Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

So much of the road network in rural areas is potholed and damaged that it is very difficult for residents to travel to and from work or even do an ordinary school run. In many places, the potholes are so big that even the adventurer Bear Grylls would struggle to make his way through. Right beside them there might be a great piece of road; it is a checker board right around the place and much more work needs to be done. There has been much underinvestment over years in this regard. The Department estimates €580 million should be spent each year but since 2011 barely half of that has been spent. Even at €417 million, this year's funding still falls well short. In Cork, for example, which has the largest road network, the road manager estimates he must resurface a road every ten years. With the funding made available to him, he would only be able to resurface a road every 50 to 55 years. It is clearly inadequate.

It is not just about the level of funding, as the Minister is restricting the way the councils can spend their money. For example, the discretionary fund cannot be spent on local improvements from this year and the Minister is proposing to stop topping up the discretionary fund from the restoration improvement grant from next year. He is removing flexibility from local authorities and the ability to spend money where they see issues.

It is a good move to reintroduce the local improvement scheme and it will make a big difference in so many rural communities. Releasing the funding so late in the year means we are not getting the best value. The Minister should release it much earlier in the year as it would not cost anything to do so. If it was released earlier, councils could plan better and get better value for money, making the road networks so much better than they are now.

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