David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge that the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, visited Midleton. Many of the rural roads in question remain virtually impassable. I have driven on them myself and they are in an awful condition. They will require additional funding. Has the €13 million been handed over to Cork County Council? Does the Minister not agree that there is a significant gap between €13 million and €50 million?

The council does not have the funding to do it. This was an exceptional event. What plans does the Minister have to ensure the roads that are so badly damaged, especially the very many rural roads that citizens need and use all of the time, are repaired? I have driven them myself and they are absolutely appalling. They are totally cut away. Some of them have very deep trenches torn out of them for their full length, especially in higher rural areas where the volume, speed and power of the water was devastating. Will the Minister commit to finding the funding and making it available as soon as possible? Has the funding been transferred already and what will happen for the rest of this year?

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