Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Patrick O’Donovan, to the Chamber and congratulate him on his appointment.

I have raised the issue of the rural roads infrastructure, particularly in Cavan and Monaghan. Many Members are well qualified to speak on this issue, as many of us have travelled throughout the country to get elected to this House. We may have travelled up a few dead-end roads but that was from a purely political point of view.

Monaghan is a predominantly rural county with less than 30% of the population living in an urban area, compared to the national average of 62%. It has a strong agrifood manufacturing and engineering base with many employers living in local areas up small boreens. It has no real public transport infrastructure and a poor national bus service. It has the highest density of local roads per square kilometre outside of Dublin. The county is dependent on its roads infrastructure, in particular its regional and local roads, which provide access to employment and mobility. Monaghan has the highest agricultural export value per hectare outside of Dublin, made up mainly of poultry with 52% of the country’s entire flock located in the county. It is also the largest producer and exporter of mushrooms in the country. Both of these sectors depend on commercial vehicles being able to access local roads to get produce to the marketplace. The value of agriculture indicates approximately 2,500 people are employed in that sector in County Monaghan, the highest in any Border region.

This year the roads funding allocation for Cavan-Monaghan came to €13 million. While it seems to be a lot of money, it represents a 40% decrease on the amount allocated in 2011. An extensive survey conducted by Monaghan County Council indicated 60% of the regional local roads are in need of immediate attention. When one thinks of the good work and investment that has gone into the local road infrastructure across the country, it is sad it is now crumbling under our feet. It is an acute issue for an area such as Monaghan from an employment and rural perspective. Will the Minister of State increase the funding?