Tanker route badly needs some of the fuel taxes

TRANSPORT Minister Noel Dempsey says he has no funds for repair of the roads damaged by the recent ice, snow and heavy rain. I can point him towards a related fund which did not exist this time last year.

The R630 in east Cork (Midleton to Whitegate) must be one of the busiest regional roads in Ireland. Along it pass very large petroleum tankers that carry 40% of the nation’s fuel requirements (from the Conoco-Philips refinery), not to mention a substantial amount of the bottled gas (from Calor-Kosangas). From sales of these fuels the Government receives a substantial amount of revenue through taxes and excise duties.

However, Minister Dempsey sees no urgency in having this road repaired to a standard that will bear so many 20-plus tonne trucks day and night.