Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I welcome the outdoor recreation scheme. There has been added benefit in County Limerick from it. One walkway in which I was heavily involved was the Askeaton Slí na Sláinte. Approximately €120,000 was given to that last year, which was very welcome. The local authority said it will be developed and work will be happening there quite soon.

This may not come under his Department but I ask the Minister to use his influence being a rural Deputy on the issue of tertiary roads and low-cost safety junction improvements throughout the country. A programme needs to be set up on that. Every year there is a list of junctions in rural Ireland that need to be refurbished or made safe. Usually within a council electoral area, one will get two or three junctions done if one is lucky. A programme should be put together over three or four years so that we can deal with this. The people of rural Ireland will see the fruits of the economy coming back to alleviate or help in road safety. I ask the Minister to use his influence with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport on that and to give me an update.

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