Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Ceann Comhairle has noticed that the condition of many local rural roads is deplorable and that the situation has been getting worse in every year of this Government. The fact is that the Government is starving local authorities of the funding needed to maintain the current poor state of local roads, never mind to ensure the situation can improve. The result is that at a time when fuel prices have been increased by the Government, many people travelling in rural communities are bursting their tyres on local roads or other damage is being caused to their cars. It appears the Government is sitting on its hands. I have never seen so many local roads in my own county of Monaghan in such a poor state of repair. I ask the Tánaiste to give me a yes-no answer to the following question: will the Government provide sufficient additional funding to local councils so they can undertake the road resurfacing programmes that are desperately needed?

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