Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In my capacity as Government Whip, I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach, Cathaoirleach, Leader and Deputy Leader for their courtesy throughout the year. I thank Martin Groves, Bridget Doody and Orla Murray sincerely for their assistance throughout the year. I thank all Members for their assistance and co-operation in trying to get business done throughout the year. I wish them a happy and relaxing summer as far as possible.

On a more serious note, I ask the Deputy Leader to invite the Minister for Transport, Deputy Éamon Ryan, to come to the House, perhaps in early September, to discuss what can only be described as a go-slow approach in relation to roads funding throughout the country. There is a section of road along the M2, between Castleblayney, County Monaghan, and Ardee, County Louth, that is one of the most dangerous pieces of roadway in the country. In the past ten years, 17 people have lost their lives on that road and 23 people have lost their lives there since 2007. They are statistics but behind the statistics there are broken families. Monaghan County Council has applied for an upgrade of the road. To date, it has received €600,000 for design. Since last February, it has been looking for approximately €1.2 million to complete that design project and to date, that funding has not been forthcoming. I will reserve my comments today, but clearly, it is not good enough. I ask the Deputy Leader to arrange an urgent debate on the issue when we come back in September.We are talking about life and death. If a Department cannot see its way to releasing €1.2 million funding to save people's lives, the person or people responsible for decisions like that need to answer for them.