As the Minister will be aware, we in County Cavan do not have any rail line and do not have any east-west link as yet, though I am still hopeful. We are totally dependent on our road network. Some 70% of our population lives in rural areas. Our county sees very intensive rural commercial activity, leading to very high volumes of heavy goods vehicles on the local road network. There are very poor drainage conditions and, therefore, our roads are structurally weak. Page 9 of the programme for Government features a commitment to essential road maintenance and upkeep. Will the Minister commit to increasing the depleted allocation from his Department, which currently stands at €15 million? That must be restored to the €20 million allocation of ten years ago. At most, that will only allow us to protect County Cavan's regional and local roads. We need more funding to be allocated to Cavan County Council to protect what we have.

On the same issue, I note that our train services in Tipperary run at ridiculous times, which are unsuitable for anybody going to college or work. Can the Minister work with Iarnród Éireann to change the timetables? We are all about reducing carbon footprints by getting people out of their cars and onto public transport. There is no point in having public transport if we do not have timetables that suit people.

The challenge we have is that we need to fund investment in both public transport and the road network. Areas where there is no public transport alternative, as Deputy Niamh Smyth pointed out, must take precedence within the roads maintenance budget, which is not extensive. Road maintenance will also help bus services, which can be part of the public transport solution.

I am very aware of the lack of co-ordination in the provision of services to allow for the most beneficial use of the Tipperary rail lines. I do not know if Deputy Martin Browne is aware, but earlier during oral questions, we had a debate on the potential for development of rail freight services, which are completely contracted. If that happens, and it is a real strategic possibility, it might help us to make some of the necessary investments, particularly in those lines without significant passenger numbers. In that way, we could improve passenger services at the same time on lines in County Tipperary, for example.

It seems to me that that is one way of getting economic life back in the towns and counties along those lines.