SDLP Regional Development spokesperson, Tommy Gallagher has said he is very concerned that a lack of finance is forcing the NI Department of Regional Development to give up on its own very limited targets for minor roads maintenance.

"The standard road maintenance guidelines used by the Department are hardly ambitious – they only seek to achieve 30% of what they consider to be best practice," said Mr Gallagher.

"However, this year they are even giving up on this limited target and admitting it won’t be met.

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"We have had a terrible winter and now we are going into the spring months which traditionally do the most damage to road surfaces. Our minor roads are in an awful state and it must be time for the Executive to step in. Finance Minister Sammy Wilson must realise that if we fall much below 30% of best practice, serious structural damage will be done which will cost much more to fix."

He continued: "Our entire rural population depends on these roads for access to education, health and the rural economy. The Dublin government has just provided extra money, more than the councils bid for, to take account of exceptional frost and flood damage to minor roads. I am calling on our Finance Minister to see the good sense of taking similar steps and coming up with the money in next week’s budget."

(NS/GK)