Yesterday, the Minister and Ministers of State for Transport announced additional funding for regional and local roads damaged during Storm Chandra. Monaghan was allocated €900,000, which is welcome, but I could not believe no funding was allocated for Cavan, which also had serious road flooding issues. In a statement, the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, said, "The funding made available today will ensure that priority work can be undertaken ... to restore our regional and local roads, keeping our rural communities and businesses connected and protected." This is all well-intentioned but the reality is our road network is far from being maintained and protected.

Only this week I received an email from Drung cycling club just outside Cootehill because one of its members came off her bike after hitting a massive pothole. The lady now has a broken arm, significant facial injuries and bruises because of a completely avoidable accident. Absolutely no one should suffer life-changing injuries because of a pothole that could have been repaired. Local authorities are doing their best but they cannot spend money they do not have and their calls for additional funding are not being heard.

The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, recently refused to meet with councillors to discuss roads funding because he had no time. However, he did have time for a photo op of him opening the N55. He then had the cheek to call councillors who boycotted the opening of this road "self-promoting". Councillors boycotted the event because they are not being listened to, because they want to stand up for their communities and because the Minister will not meet with them. Since getting elected, I have tried to get a debate with the Minister on this issue on countless occasions. The Minister has said that he likes to meet people and work with them. He has not demonstrated that to me. If the Minister is so happy to work with people, why will he not come into this Chamber to justify the lack of funding for Cavan County Council?