Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the answer and welcome his indication that he will announce the allocation for this year later this month. I have a minor criticism, which is that last year, he announced the allocations in September and December, which is very late in the year to get work done. There is bad weather etc. so councils are rushing to get work done at the end of the year. It is welcome that this year's allocation will be announced earlier.

This scheme should not be underestimated, as it provides valuable access for people in rural areas who cannot get to a main road. Generally speaking, the local authority would not be in a position to fund repairs to such roads. I found myself on a lane in the past number of days that had approximately ten people living on it. An old person lives at the very end of the lane but the local doctor and public health nurse have not been in a position to visit the person at the end of the lane, who was sick, because the surface is so bad. I hope there will be an opportunity for the scheme to fix such examples this year. Will there be different criteria for allocations this year?

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