A couple of weeks ago, I raised with the Tánaiste the disgraceful allocations for local road restoration in counties like Monaghan and Cavan, to which he responded that he would engage with the Minister for Transport on the matter. Has he had that engagement with the Minister, as committed to, and can he now assure the House that there will be a substantive increase in funding for local and regional roads? Since our last interaction, local Oireachtas Members have met with officials and councillors from both Monaghan and Cavan county councils. Their reports were stark. They told us that under the announced funding allocation, road conditions will deteriorate and fewer roads will be repaired than were repaired last year. At a time when the cost of driving is going through the roof, the state of the roads people have to drive on will deteriorate. Will the Tánaiste assure people in rural communities that an increased allocation of funding for local roads will be made, and made soon?

As the Deputy said, he raised this issue with me a number of weeks ago. I spoke to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, who committed to getting back to the Deputy. I will follow up with the Minister on foot of our interaction today. We keep the allocations we make for roads and transport under review as the year progresses. The Deputy has highlighted a specific concern in relation to Cavan and Monaghan and has engaged with officials there. I will ask the Minister to get back to him directly.