I thank the Minister.

If I can have a last word, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, in the short-term, it is about being able to provide accommodation for people who are rough sleeping at present. Another 109 people were offered accommodation today.

We will try to keep to the time limits.

I want to get clarity from the Government in relation to the roads budget. We have reports that Transport Infrastructure Ireland funding for local authority projects has been stopped in many areas of the country. I have a copy of emails between the Irish Asphalt Pavement Producers Association and Transport Infrastructure Ireland in respect of this. The association asked what was happening because some of its members were hearing reports that local authorities were stalling projects that were to go ahead. The reply from TII stated that it had issued instructions last week for local authorities not to go to tender without prior approval from TII, that its commitment across the expenditure profile exceeded the funding available and that, unfortunately, the consequence is that there will be a significant number of schemes that cannot progress to construction in the current year. In the case of a number of roads projects up and down the country, local authorities have funding in place and the industry is prepared to provide the materials to do them but now we find that the funding has been cut by central government.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. I call the Tánaiste.

This could involve up to €40 million in funding. We need to get clarity about what is happening here. Everywhere we go in the country we hear people complain about the state of the roads and the dangers on the roads. We need to ensure funding is in place to provide adequate improvement works.

I remind all Members that they may speak for up to one minute on one issue related to promised legislation and Government policy. I ask that they co-operate.

Is the Deputy talking about road maintenance or road projects?

Road projects and maintenance.

We are not having an interaction. We will have a question and a response.

It is difficult to respond if we do not have clarity on what the Deputy is asking. The Government has allocated increased funding for road maintenance and will be allocating additional sums for road maintenance as well. There should not be an issue.

It is in black and white.

I know. Different lobby groups come in. The local authorities, TII and so on are there to engage with groups. There has been inflation, which has eaten into a lot of projects and increased their cost, but overall the allocation has increased substantially, both for TII projects and road maintenance.