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

I am sure the Taoiseach will be ecstatic to know that I will be standing shoulder to shoulder with him at the opening of the Ballyvourney section of Macroom bypass. It is no thanks whatever to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan that this road is opening because if we were relying on the Minister for Transport who does not like building roads to open it, it would never have opened and would never have been put there. I am glad it is there in spite of some people. I warmly welcome the Taoiseach to come there and to open that leg of the road.

I also want to raise something the Taoiseach mentioned, namely, education. For a long time , I have said that when a student leaves secondary school, he or she should do so with his or her leaving certificate in one hand and a full driver's licence in the other. I really believe that. The learning of the rules of the road and driving a motor car should all be accomplished by the time a person leaves school. It would be for the betterment and the safety of all. In saying that, I want to ensure that our young people can get a driver's test. The Taoiseach will be aware of the extraordinary delays. That is wrong and should be dealt with as a matter of urgency.

While I would like to see anything that could be done to help stop the deaths on our roads, I do not think the further reduction in our speed limits is the answer. There are basic things that we should start doing such as cutting hedges on all our roads and taking surplus water off our roads - basic road maintenance. They will lead to as much safety on our roads as any other measures but they are measures we are not taking.

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