Cullen denies favouring his constituency in €477m roads bonanza

ENVIRONMENT Minister Martin Cullen has rejected claims he favoured his own Waterford constituency and those of top ministers in sharing out the record €477 million funding for non-national roads announced yesterday.

Launching the programme, Mr Cullen said the fund was a 10% increase in the grant aid given to local authorities. This represents a record €4,610 for every kilometre of local and regional roads in every county.

"We are smoothing the way for road users with better surfaces, wider roads and enhanced drainage," Mr Cullen said.