Capital plan and transport priorities
John Curran raises limited transport content in the capital plan review and the needs of Clonburris and west Dublin. The Taoiseach says he would welcome a House debate on capital plan priorities and the planning framework.
There are six Deputies remaining. We can take them quickly if Members are amenable. I call Deputy Curran. The six Deputies should be brief.
Comment on this
During the summer, the Government published the review of the capital plan. In the foreword, the Minister stated that it would be the foundation for further discussion and analysis before final decisions were made. I do not expect the Taoiseach to do so now, but were he to look at what is written about transport on page 63, he would see it to be very limited in terms of content. I am raising this matter because, in South Dublin County Council's area, which is my area, there are plans for a new town of Clonburris, with an estimated 8,000 or 8,500 housing units and a projected future population of more than 20,000 people. While the local authority is the lead agency in developing the plan, it cannot be done in isolation from the Government as regards infrastructure, particularly traffic infrastructure. Before the Government signs off on its capital plan, will it publish the documents from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and will it facilitate a debate on the capital plan in the House?
Comment on this
On the question relating to publishing documents, it is a matter for the respective Ministers. I would certainly welcome a debate in the House on the capital plan priorities and the planning framework before they are published. It would be appropriate for the House to, at the very least, have statements on such an important issue before decisions are made. As somebody who also represents a west Dublin constituency, I am very aware of the need to upgrade our public transport infrastructure and to electrify it if possible. However, these things are expensive.