Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, delivers on Government policy relating to national roads. I spoke to the Taoiseach and regarding the southern relief road in Carlow. I am now glad that the strategic assessment report, SAR, has been completed by Carlow County Council and it has recently been given clearance to proceed to prepare a preliminary business case, for which I thank the Taoiseach. However, other projects like this one are not progressing due to lack of funding. The level of funding available in the first half of the national development plan is not enough to progress all the schemes committed to. Other Deputies have raised this with the Taoiseach and more will do so. My concern is for the N24 and N25 roads. I spoke to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, on this on this and I am happy he has agreed to meet the Deputies and councillors from the area.

We spoke about the cost of living and housing. The biggest issue relating to adaptation grants for local authorities is that the grant is not big enough. Several people have come to my office in recent months saying they cannot afford to make up the shortfall after receiving the local authority adaptation grant. Given the cost of living and the cost of materials, we need to look at the grants because they are affecting older people and others who need them.

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