Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Page 44 of the programme for Government contains a commitment to increase the budget for local and regional roads by 50%. This morning, I will focus on class 3 local roads, often referred to as culs-de-sac, which are listed as council roads in each local authority's road schedule. That schedule legally obligates the local authority to maintain these roads, yet they have been ignored for years as regards repairs and road surfacing. My blood boils when I hear that residents living on these roads, many of whom have no resources, are being advised to apply for funding under the community involvement schemes. As I have said before, these people living on third class roads are being treated as third class citizens with no equity. Will the Government and the Minister responsible encourage or advise each local authority that fairness and equity prevail in respect of road allocation on local roads? These people must be treated in a fair and equitable way. They are entitled to be able to go about their business but they are not able to do so in many of these culs-de-sac which are council roads.

See this speech in context