The programme for Government commits to investing in a new roads infrastructure to ensure that all parts of Ireland are connected to one another. Two parts of the country that are not very well connected are the north and south banks of the Liffey in Droichead Nua, that is, Newbridge, County Kildare. I scoured the national development plan that was launched yesterday but there is no mention of a new bridge for Newbridge. We need a second bridge to ensure there is sustainable development in the largest town by population in the county. There are three strategic housing developments in Newbridge, which comprise more than 1,100 homes. These homes are badly needed but we also need the infrastructure or we will see the same mistakes repeated. I ask that this does not happen. Will the Government prioritise a new bridge for Newbridge, County Kildare? It is a case of droichead nua do Dhroichead Nua.

Hear, hear. Can the Minister help in this regard?

I thank the Ceann Comhairle.

I do not want to overpromise to bridge that particular gap but a lot of people have asked whether, if their project is not in the national development plan, that means it will not be built or will not happen. The answer to this question is a very strong "No, that is not necessarily the case". There is a significant increase in capital expenditure within this programme. Obviously, when projects are prioritised by local authorities and by Departments, there is no reason they cannot be delivered. They do not necessarily have to be on a list of projects in the document that we launched yesterday.