I seek an update on the applications from Wexford County Council and Wicklow County Council for emergency funding for urgent road repairs following Storm Chandra. I strongly commend both councils' teams on their work to date. I welcome the Taoiseach's visit to many of the affected areas in days following the storm. However, this week, almost two months on from the storm, many roads remain closed or simply impassable. There are damaged or collapsed roads the length and breadth of Wicklow and Wexford from Kilanerin to Enniskerry, and from Coolkenno down to Kilmore Quay. Many of the potholes are now mini craters. When we factor in the combination of darkness and rain, these roads are a serious risk to commuters. We do not need a quick-fix solution. The roads need to be completely resurfaced and drainage must be addressed, or we will be back here again in 12 months. The CEO of Wexford County Council, Eddie Taaffe, and the CEO of Wicklow County Council, Emer O'Gorman, have submissions on the desk of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. Two months on, we simply need to sign off on this long-overdue critical funding.

The Department of Transport has been liaising with all of the local authorities on foot of the flooding that happened. They have done a schedule and survey of all of the roads that have to be done. Preliminary costings have been prepared. Our Department is working with each local authority to put in place a plan for executing these works. As the Taoiseach said earlier, some discretionary money has been allocated to local authorities. Of course they will need support in carrying out these works. Our Department is working closely with each local authority so we can put in place a programme to get the works done as quickly as possible.