Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to ask about moneys that will go unspent by the Department. There are shovel-ready LIS projects across the country that badly need funding. Although they have moved from the Department of Transport to the Department of Rural and Community Development, I ask that the Minister engage with the Minister for Rural and Community Affairs. We have thousands of roads around the country, many of which are used for walking and cycling because they are quieter country roads that keep people off the busy main roads. In my county, work is awaited on close to 800 roads. Many people must go filling potholes and maintaining the roads themselves week in, week out. These roads are a valuable amenity in terms of walking and cycling. Often, they are access points to mountains, rivers and lakes. It would be money well spent by the Department. These projects are shovel ready and would create valuable employment throughout the country.

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