Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I did not realise either, so it is fine. The most welcome part of the Minister of State's few words was at the end where he said that if additional moneys become available, he might be able to supplement the budget, and he might need to do that.

I have been talking to local engineers in Cork. The price of tar or chip has more or less doubled since 2019. Due to the significant inflationary increase in doing the projects, since 2019 fewer kilometres are being resurfaced or repaired than before, despite the fact that budgets have increased overall. I believe it is imperative that we increase the overall budget. That needs to be done.

At a recent county council meeting, one of the directors said that funding is the significant limitation in expanding the programme and cutting through the waiting list. There are dozens of roads in Cork on a waiting list. To be fair to them, Deputies Michael Healy-Rae and Danny Healy-Rae raise this issue consistently. There are hundreds of roads on the waiting list in County Kerry. It is one of those programmes that encourages communities and individuals in private laneways to get together. It is imperative that we look at resourcing it.

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