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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Wexford roads funding deficit

Summary

Deputy Murphy says Wexford faces a huge roads funding shortfall and local roads are in dire condition. The Taoiseach agrees roads safety and road quality both matter and says he will raise the funding issue with the Transport Minister.

I wish the Taoiseach the best of luck in his job. Wexford has a deficit in roads funding of €66 million. I raised this as a Topical Issue a month ago. It was taken by a junior Minister, who promised there would be engagement with the line Minister, but I have heard nothing. We have a deplorable set of circumstances. The roads are in an awful state. Many roads in the Rosslare and New Ross district do not have foundations. The problem is that I am to address a road safety conference for professional drivers this afternoon and the first thing they will say is that roads infrastructure is fundamental in preventing people from dying on our roads. This involves everything from the removal of bends, resurfacing, addressing waterlogging and the removal of ditches.

We talk constantly about saving people's lives but we do not have the roads infrastructure or funding to put same in place.

The Ryder Cup has been given €58 million. Some 17,000 extra cars will go through Adare. Wexford will have 500,000 people attend the fleadh this year. I ask the Taoiseach to consider that and provide for the deficit in funding, please.

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Simon Harris The Taoiseach Fine Gael

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I had a meeting with the Road Safety Authority this week. There are at least three aspects to road safety and probably more. There are killer behaviours, which we need to get on top of, including drink driving, drug driving and speed. There is enforcement. I agree that there is also the issue of the quality and safety of our roads. There is a correlation between the number of accidents at accident blackspots and the likes. I will specifically raise the issue of Wexford roads and roads funding levels with the Minister for Transport and come back to the Deputy in writing on the issue.

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