Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I thank the Minister for his attendance in the House. A number of years ago in his previous capacity as a Minister of State, he attended a meeting of the western roads committee of Cork County Council in the courthouse in Skibbereen. For some time we had been trying to obtain funding for a road in the Gaeltacht area of Ballingeary. It was not forthcoming and the issue was a hot potato in the local elections of 1999. Funding was made available for what is now a very fine section of road in Ballingeary. It is very important to look at these areas. That initiative brought about a better piece of infrastructure and a better quality of life for the people of those areas. I will let the Minister know about the benefits of the scheme after the local elections campaign next year.