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

Every person killed on the roads leaves behind a family, friend and community whose lives are forever changed. Speaking of people being killed, I have been contacted twice during the term of this Government by people looking for help to get a disability certificate for a child named Maia. She is in danger of being choked by the seatbelt in her family's car, which is the very thing that should be saving her. Her family needs to get a primary medical certificate. If they got one, they would be able to buy a specially adapted car for Maia. I am awaiting a response from two Ministers. I put in a request on 2 April, 15 days ago, and I am still waiting for a response. I went back to both Ministers again today, looking for an urgent response. The truth of the matter is that every time this child has to travel in the car, she is at risk of dying. Surely this can be rectified.

The Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, was warned that underinvestment in roads and infrastructure could lead to 77 deaths and 381 serious injuries over the next five years but he seems undeterred by this and he continues with his agenda of not investing in roads. When we talk about roads, we have to go back to my constituency in west Cork. Year in, year out, roads in County Cork get a totally inadequate budget from this Government. It is continuous. Every excuse is made in the Dáil for them not getting money. Every report that has ever come out from Cork County Council has proven that the underspend on Cork roads is the largest in the country. It is no wonder there are deaths there.

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