Pippa Hackett (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Lombard. I do not disagree that it is a serious issue, but the State grant funding is allocated on a fair and equitable basis road on road length. Yes, Cork is a vast county. It has a lot of road network and gets a proportionate amount based on that compared to other counties that have less of a road network and get a lesser amount. It is done on a fair and equitable basis.

Notwithstanding that, there are opportunities within the council for Cork County Council to identify the road project the Senator has highlighted and the issues with that. Pressure needs to be put on Cork County Council to deliver on that, and it then will put the pressure on the Department. That does not fix it in the here and now, but that is the route of travel from now on. If this is important, which it is and I am not discounting it, pressure must be put on the council to identify it as one to put on its list for next year. That is the advice I have. This is the same in many other councils across the country, but priorities have to be made. Councils make priorities and the Department makes priorities based on some of that advice.