Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In A Programme for a Partnership Government, the Minister committed to increasing funding for roads by 50% to €447 million. That has not yet happened. That figure is still below what is required to achieve steady-state levels. The Minister gave a commitment, in the debate on a substantive Private Member's motion that was brought before the Dáil earlier this year, to the effect that he would come back and give a detailed response on how the Government is going to address the issues raised by the National Oversight and Audit Commission. It is not me, but an independent body which is saying that 70% of regional roads have some form of structural or surface deficit. When can we expect a response? Can the Minister confirm that when that response is forthcoming, it will be backed up with the resources necessary? It is not good enough for the Minister to say that it is the responsibility of the local authorities. He knows that local authorities do the job and that they are funded to it by his Department.

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