Michael Brennan (Fianna Fail)

As regards the Minister of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the study of the non-national road network, Senators should welcome any such review. We all remember a time when non-national roads were in a bad state and I am sure the Opposition made noises then as well. They are now in a good state. We should ask the Minister, if he is coming to the House, about staffing levels as regards such work. The staff of the national roads design team has been reduced to about a third. The Minister should bring up employment levels, especially for major projects under the national roads programme to meet the needs of the national development plan.