Vol. 440 No. 4
18 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Environment in regard to his recent speech in County Cavan, his views on the way in which local people can contribute more to ridding roads of potholes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I have made it clear that it is open to local authorities to involve local communities in contributing, whether in money or in kind, towards the maintenance and improvement of public roads in their area. While the amount of any local financial contribution would be likely to be small, a significant contribution could be made by the carrying out of works such as opening and maintaining drains, trimming roadside hedges, etc.
I am impressed by the success of the pilot schemes under which county councils have worked since 1992 in conjunction with local communities in Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim. I am convinced that the involvement of local communities generally in local road improvements has the potential to add significantly to the return from public investment in these roads.
If the Minister means what he says will he accept that the local improvement schemes, which have been starved of funding down through the years, ought to be adequately financed so that the commitment of local communities to road improvement can be put into effect?
The demand for those schemes has not been matched by funding to local authorities. However, I would not place great emphasis on that approach to dealing with the conditions of our roads, but there is in place a scheme for private roads which is deserving of support so perhaps the Minister will put his money where his mouth is in that respect.
I have increased the funds for local improvement schemes this year and I have also increased funding for county and regional roads. I do not accept the Deputy's castigation of community involvement and her simplistic approach to the matter.
It is a realistic one.
The Deputy should take the opportunity to visit Counties Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim where she will see the community interest which she denigrates here.
I am denigrating the Minister, not the people.
I compliment those communities who have supported the local authorities. If the Deputy is interested in visiting these areas she will see the work being done. She should not make little of communities who have been involved in this way.
The pilot schemes which have a limited role to play have been a success.
That is why I allocated more money.
It is not sufficient. Is the Minister aware that the situation is desperate? Will he make available emergency funding for roads which are in a bad state of repair due to adverse weather conditions and, more particularly, due to the failure of the Government and its immediate predecessor to realise the problems that have been ongoing for a number of years?
Funds for county roads and regional development have been increased by 35 per cent this year. I very much regret that Fine Gael has castigated me as Minister for the Environment in trying to get support——
Here we go again — you can give it but you cannot take it.
The Minister is under pressure, otherwise he would not be attacking us.
On a point of order——
That concludes questions.
