Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raise the alarming report that was on the front of the newspaper today. Leaders in transport have raised with the Minister for Transport the stalling of many road projects and the fact that they expect it could lead to anything up to 77 deaths and 400 to 500 serious injuries. When I went through the report, the Garda figures were that people had only reported 7,000 to 8,000 serious injuries in the last number of years, but hospital figures showed there were about 15,000, so some people are not even reporting it. It is stark.

There are many roads in my neck of the woods. It has been said that the Limerick to Cork dual carriageway will progress. I am not sure that it will be a motorway, which is most disappointing, because for people having to travel that road daily, it is not very safety. There are many bends and twists in it. It is not conducive for people who are using it daily for work. There are many other roads. The road from Waterford to Tipperary, the N24, goes through Cahir and on to Limerick. The roads are necessary. We can all use public transport, which I am a firm believer in, but many of these roads are crucial. The Government is pushing the development of the regions. I would like the Deputy Leader's support in saying that the Minister for Transport needs to push on with these roads as soon as possible.