What plans does the Government have and what arrangements are being made within the Estimates to address the appalling conditions of our rural roads network? We had an election six months ago. Prior to that election, the big parties conducted their research, had their focus groups, were taking soundings as to what the issues were and were sending people to America and the UK. I am surprised that the big parties, particularly Fine Gael, did not consult their councillors. The one message they would have received from rural Ireland is that there is a massive neglect of the rural road network. As a result of councillors losing touch with their constituents, the Fine Gael Party and other big parties suffered a loss of support. I have to say that I felt sorry for many Fine Gael and Labour Party councillors who canvassed rural areas and came back and said that they were ashamed and embarrassed to be asking people for votes from laneways, byroads and side roads that were simply inaccessible.

According to a recent report, there are 91,000 km of regional and local roads in Ireland which account for 94% of the country's road network and carry 54% of all the traffic on our roads. That same report highlights that when the condition of those roads was examined, over 75% of them were in urgent need of repair and maintenance. At the same time, we have an additional 75,000 cars travelling on Irish roads since 2010. That has increased the annual income from road tax by €17 million. While that money was coming into the Exchequer, at the same time there was a decrease in the funding for our national roads programme. In my own constituency, the national roads fund decreased from €608 million in 2008 to the current figure of €294 million. My county of Tipperary was allocated a total of €45 million for roads in 2011. By 2015, that had fallen to €28 million. In the current year, it has fallen by a further €3 million. In other words, within five years, we have lost €25 million worth of funding for our road network.

The unacceptable quality of the rural road network is having a negative impact on the social and economic well-being of rural communities. There are school buses, ambulances and buses that are collecting people to take them to day care centres on these roads. I am aware of a situation in which an ambulance was taken out of service for three weeks due to damage that was done when bringing a patient from one of these side roads. Every day, my office receives countless complaints of dangerous situations in which people are forced to drive erratically to avoid potholes. Vehicles have been damaged, tyres have been ripped off and the steering, wheels and suspension of cars have been damaged seriously. These rural dwellers pay the same car tax as urban dwellers but are at a complete disadvantage.

I acknowledge and am very aware, as are all Fine Gael councillors and Deputies, that the capital budget for local and regional roads is still recovering. There is a huge amount of work to be done. It is still recovering after the economic crash. That is why the new partnership Government will increase the budget for this infrastructure very dramatically by 50% in the years ahead and as the national finances improve. That is the reality of the commitment that has been made. As the Deputy will be aware, the capital plan provides €6 billion for investment in the roads network in the period to 2022, with €4.4 billion earmarked for the maintenance and strengthening of the existing and extensive networking throughout the country. A sum of €1.6 billion has been earmarked for new projects. Clearly, there is an acceptance of the point that the Deputy is making and a reflection of that in the capital budget for the coming year and the years ahead. Some of the funding has been announced already. The approach has been to include a mix of projects throughout the country to address particular constraints, including bottlenecks and port connectivity.

The transport element of the capital plan is based on a gradual build-up in capital funding for the road network from - I agree with the Deputy - what is currently a relatively low base towards the levels needed to carry out the kind of maintenance and improvement works the Deputy refers to. It is well recognised at Government level that there are serious problems. The money is being invested. In Tipperary, I take the Deputy's point that there were reductions over the years. We have to remember why. It was because we were in the middle of an economic crash and recession. However, in January this year, for example, regional and local allocations were announced. A sum of €15.9 million was allocated to Tipperary County Council to deal with some of the issues the Deputy has mentioned. Clearly, further investment is needed. It has been allocated in the capital fund and will address a range of issues in an ongoing manner in the period ahead.

All I can tell the Tánaiste is that the people that I represent in Tipperary are angry, frustrated and annoyed. They feel ignored, forgotten and abandoned. I am not at all happy that, effectively, what the Tánaiste is telling me is that the Government recognises that there is a serious problem but that it cannot do anything about it until 2019. Can the Tánaiste be more specific? I welcome the fact that there will be additional funds available. Could the Tánaiste be more specific about whether we are going to get an increased capital allowance for each of the council areas, including Tipperary, in the budget and in the current Estimates that will be under discussion in September? We cannot wait for another two years.

Our roads are in an appalling condition. People are extremely angry and agitated. There are rural communities such as the farming community that have situations such as milk collection tanks that will not go down some of these roads. We have people who are refusing to do business with small farmers because of the fear of damage to their property while entering those farms. This is a serious issue that needs urgent redress. We need a co-ordinated programme throughout the country to ensure we have a five-year programme that gives us value for money and a return on investment and that is properly managed in order that people in rural areas can see a visible improvement in the road network.

In response to Deputy Lowry, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is well aware of the issues the Deputy has outlined and will consider them in the context of the budget. I will bring to his attention once again the points the Deputy has made today. Clearly, as people begin to see the kind of investment that now is possible because of the recovery, they will not - as the Deputy described - feel abandoned. They will see improvements in their local and national roads and the Government is committed to an increase in funding in 2017, 2018, 2019 and onwards. Hopefully, as the economic situation improves, it is an area for critical investment. I make the point that as Members are aware, last winter's flooding caused great damage and an additional €106 million was allocated nationwide to deal with the additional damage done. Clearly however, more is needed, as I have acknowledged and in respect of capital infrastructure, the Government has begun the allocations precisely to deal with the problems the Deputy has outlined. I also remind the Deputy there will be a review of the capital plan next year. I certainly have no doubt but that the Minister will consider the points the Deputy made in the context of this year's budget.