We paid for the best roads and got the worst

THE new M4 motorway was opened recently with drivers paying a €2.40c toll.

Does anybody else find this obscene and offensive?

At no time in the past has the Irish vehicle-owner been in debt to the country. In fact, the opposite is true.

For example, in 1985, the Government took from us £100 million and spent less than £11 million on the roads. Last year the figures were €2 billion and €1 billion respectively.

Irish vehicle-owners have paid for the best roads in Europe and we have got the worst.

In recent years, I have driven on country roads in Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium and Holland. Most of the main roads in Ireland could not offer the same comfort and reliability as these, not to mind their motorways. Those countries offer an alternative to toll roads of almost equal standard.

In recent times I have had occasion to make the triangular run Cork-Galway-Dublin-Cork and I feel ashamed of what is served up to our drivers - and to tourists.

Come on, Minister Cullen, be fair.

Cal Hyland

4 Closheen Lane

Rosscarbery

Co Cork