Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In recent weeks, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, published advice it gave to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, in October 2022 that delaying road projects in Mullingar, Cork, Leixlip, Cahir and Limerick would lead to 77 deaths and 381 serious injuries but he ignored that advice. This ignored report did not even look at our minor roads which are starved of funding. One municipal district in west Cork needs at least €5 million to bring roads up the standard. It got a little over €2 million which will not even scratch the surface. A massive understanding is coming home to roost and excessive flooding is adding to a nightmare driving situation. We all know far more water is falling than ever before. Everyone knows we are the authors of our own downfall. We see drains blocked, and rivers full of silt and debris and in desperate need of cleaning. We have underfunding of roadside workers and machines, which, if in place, would alleviate at least 80% of flooding problems on our minor roads, preventing death and injury. I ask the Taoiseach to promise today that he will work with the Minister to double the roads budget in County Cork. Does he support the TII report to save lives? Will he call out the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, for allowing an underspend on these roads?

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