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

The Minister asked the question: what capacity have the local authorities? In 2005 and 2006, we did exactly 111 roads each year in County Kerry because a certain Deputy was up here at the time and he was able to cajole the then Ministers into providing extra funding later in the year when it was not spent in other places. They have the capacity to do the roads all right if we get the funding.

Some of these people are waiting since 2007. Their applications went in in 2007. There was nothing happening. The Minister is dead right. I held on to the former Minister, Deputy Ring, in the committee. Every day, I was at him to reintroduce the LIS. I thank the Deputy for doing that. I will always thank him because the Department of Finance had stopped the funding going to these roads completely, which was absolutely unfair.

I appeal strongly to the Minister. In light of the fact that we have 673 roads remaining to be done, I ask her for extra funding. I will appreciate her and I will not deny her the credit that is due to her if she can make a case for us to get more funding at this time. With 30 years of a wait, many of us would long dead, gone and buried and there would be no account of us if we have to wait that long.

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