Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her reply and I recognise Deputy Ring's input because it was I who asked him to bring back the LIS at the Joint Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs several times and I am glad he responded and did so. I do not mind whether the money comes from the Department of Transport or the Department of Rural and Community Development. I have a serious ask for the Minister. There are 678 roads and if we only do 19 or 20 a year, it will take us a long time, which is not fair on the people of Kerry. The people on these roads are every bit as entitled to a good road as the people in Dublin 4. We have to recognise the problem and deal with it, and that problem is funding. I appreciate that the Minister is doing her best and I agree with her that the Department of Transport should facilitate these people. The Minister talks about cycling on her road but you cannot cycle on any of these roads now because you are in and out of potholes and the traffic is massive. The people on these roads are entitled to better and I am asking the Minister, as a Minister from a rural county, to respond and do more for us. We are in a bad situation.

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