Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am trying to be agreeable on this because the Deputy raises valid and important points about road safety and we want to build a political and societal consensus around road safety which is a major issue. I have a point of difference with the Deputy to TV adverts. There is behavioural science that shows the importance of those impactful ads. Everybody in this House and anybody watching this debate at home can think of some of the impactful ads that have been broadcast over the years and the impact they have had in generating conversations around kitchen tables, in the workplace, at the water cooler and all of that. That is good.

On roads, I would respectfully say that the €550,000 refers to five specific roads projects under the title of road safety schemes. The totality of funding we provide to Kerry for regional and local road networks, which has a contribution to road safety, is €30.14 million for this year. We have also provided €1 million in current funding to Kerry County Council to fund regular maintenance operations, including winter maintenance and route lighting. The past number of months have been horrific in terms of rain. That has had a real impact on roads. I join the Deputy in paying tribute to all local authority staff for the work they have done and I hope Government in the coming days is in a position to recognise the impact that the weather has had on roads and support our local authorities in a practical sense in that way.

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