Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of the need for increased funding for local roads in counties Monaghan and Cavan and record our appreciation of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, who met a delegation from Monaghan County Council a few weeks go, for which I thank him. The condition of roads in County Monaghan is particularly poor. There are a number of considerations we would like the Minister to take on board when allocations are being made for 2017. Monaghan has a number of unique characteristics which other counties do not have. First, 30% of the population live in rural areas compared to a national average of 62%, while the county has the highest density of local roads per km outside Dublin. It is a strongly agriculturally-based county, with a large employment base in the agrifood and engineering sectors. Many of the facilities involved are located along minor local and regional roads and completely dependent on the roads infrastructure to get their goods to and from the marketplace.

Last year Monaghan County Council received an allocation of €12.3 million from the Department. While the money was welcome, it represented a 40% reduction on the 2011 allocation. The council has conducted a survey of the local and regional road network which indicates that 60% of local and regional roads need immediate attention owing to their poor condition. I appeal to the Minister to consider counties Monaghan and Cavan as a special case when making the allocation in order that roads can be brought up to an acceptable level.