Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for attending the House to address this Adjournment matter. Since the two previous motions also referred to flooding, it is not surprising he is answering all of them. Obviously, my motion is more specific, in that it deals with the impact of the recent adverse weather on the primary, secondary and local road networks. The Minister of State will understand that many roads have disintegrated and are now in a terrible state. The weather conditions could not have been better for breaking up roads. First, there was flooding which was followed by a serious freeze, a thaw and then more flooding. Water lodged under roads and disintegrated them.

County Waterford, from where I come, has experienced particular problems, especially on high ground. There was a considerable snowfall on the mountains and when the snow thawed, the water from the mountains added to the heavy volume of rainwater. The Minister of State can imagine the serious flooding and damage this caused in the creation of potholes and channels and removal of culverts. There have been road closures in county and city areas. Owing to damage to the edge of roads, they have become almost impassable.

The Minister for Transport and the Taoiseach have stated no additional funds will be provided for local authorities. This is a disappointing stance to adopt. If roads are allowed to disintegrate and fall below a certain standard, reinstating them will prove costly. If we do not halt the damage - we are not yet out of winter and further freezing is predicted - reinstating roads will prove difficult. In County Waterford we have always prided ourselves on the local authority's investment in road maintenance, but that work has suffered a significant setback because the roads are disintegrating and subsiding.

I appeal to the Department and the Department of the Taoiseach. The road network is vital to the farming economy and business communities and in allowing children to get to school. If we do not invest in it following this serious damage, we will pay the cost in the future. Since September, Waterford County Council has had applications with the Department in connection with 30 to 35 normal reconstruction and restoration schemes, but it has not received approval from the Department. Applications in respect of the damage caused recently are adding to the backlog. Therefore, we need adequate investment if we are to undo the damage caused to the roads. While the Department has given approval to local authorities to use at their discretion existing funds, they would prefer it were they allowed to invest capital funds in the road network. I ask the Minister for Transport consider this request to enable local authorities to invest now when the money is required.

I thank the Minister of State for taking this Adjournment matter and look forward to his response.