Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I would like to make a quick response. With due respect, the Minister of State has told us, more or less, what we already know. These are unprecedented times and we have had unprecedented weather. Everybody rightly expects an unprecedented response from the Government. The Waterford city and county local authorities have always invested in their roads network but nobody could have forecast the damage done by the recent adverse weather conditions.

Road users are paying substantial road tax and are entitled to expect some assistance from the Government. The Minister has not answered my question. Will the Government provide funds additional to those which have already been allocated in the roads budget? I know the normal funds are being considered by the Department and should be expected in mid-February. Will the Government provide additional funds because of the extra damage caused to our road network? It is essential.