I welcome guests of Deputy Matt Carthy from the Lisdoonan women's group. They are most welcome here today. I also welcome guests of Deputy Robert Troy from Emper National School. There is no homework for the rest of the week, just so they know. Make sure the teacher knows that. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan is most welcome with his guests as well.

I too give a big céad míle fáilte to the good ladies from Lisdoonan, County Monaghan. They are all very welcome to the Chamber. I will take today's opportunity, like I have done on a number of occasions, to raise the chronic condition of local and regional roads in both counties Monaghan and Cavan. Unfortunately, there has been a lack of substantial development and funding in the road section, the net result of which is many local roads in both Monaghan and Cavan have reached a state where they are impassable. I am sure the ladies in the audience will know exactly what I am talking about when I mention that. We in County Monaghan and County Cavan are totally dependent on the local road network. We do not have trains and we do not have a great bus service so we are totally dependent on the local roads. Be it families going about their daily business, the farming community or the business community, the only show in town for them are the local and regional roads. They are in chronic need of substantial funding.

I have raised this particular issue with the new Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, on a number of occasions to stress to him how important it is that when he is making his annual allocation in the next number of weeks, substantial funding will be given to both counties Monaghan and Cavan to address the chronic condition of our local and regional roads. I understand that announcement is imminent. I sincerely hope the Minister will come good on his word and that substantial funding will be given to counties Monaghan and Cavan - and elsewhere - to address the substantial condition these roads have deteriorated into.