Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I presume the Minister's Department will be reviewing imminently the mid-year public capital expenditure profile. The Minister will recall that, last year, at my request, he engaged with the Fianna Fáil councillors in Cavan and Monaghan on the need to provide additional funding for the non-national road network. I would strongly urge again this year, in the event of an underspend in Departments or statutory agencies resulting in a reallocation of funding, that priority be attached to further much-needed investment in regional and local roads and laneways. A reallocation to local authorities during the summer can bring benefits to many communities and households. As the Minister knows, these roads are of the utmost importance, especially in rural Ireland. The local authorities will have the construction capacity to spend more money once they are notified in good time, and such taxpayers’ funding can be put to good use in the best interests of many communities in every county.

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