Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Taoiseach's overview. I must ask him one specific question. Some months ago, I raised with him the issue of rural roads and funding therefor. We have had storms, floods and frost. All of those events have had a serious impact on the condition of rural roads. At the time, the Taoiseach said to me that it was an issue and I said people in rural areas felt abandoned, forgotten, neglected. Many roads are impassable due to their condition. We need a concerted and co-ordinated plan to restore rural roads. The last time I raised this the Taoiseach said in response that he would look at it when the councils had spent the money they had been allocated. I am now asking him to look at it in the context of the budget. Can the Taoiseach make further funds available to councils to repair our rural roads?

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