Feargal Quinn (Independent)

In light of people's outrage and their calls for a debate on the collusion that occurred 30 years ago, it seems almost trivial to raise any other matter. However, I am of the view that the Government does not recognise the frustration of citizens at the lack of interest in traffic delays that are occurring due to the system relating to road repairs. I raised this matter on previous occasions. If a road needs to be repaired, the work is done within normal working hours, namely, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. If 100 hours of work need to be done, the job takes 12 days to complete. In other countries, such repair works are done on a round-the-clock basis, under arc lights during the hours of darkness. In such circumstances, jobs requiring 100 hours of work take only four days to complete.

I cannot get over the amount of work being carried out on our roads. I accept that repair works are necessary but citizens are extremely frustrated and they will repay the Government in kind if it does not take action in this regard. As already stated, in light of other matters, this issue seems trivial. However, people are frustrated and the Government should do something. I am not sure how it deals with local authorities and I do not know whether the National Roads Authority has responsibility in this regard. However, when road works need to be carried out, we allocate time in respect of them over a period of months rather than days. The Government should take action or it will suffer at the general election.