I wish to take up Senator O'Loughlin's point on the roadshow of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue. I acknowledge that he was in Maam Cross in Connemara last week. I commend him on that and on engaging proactively with farmers.

The difficulties farmers face in respect of convergence probably depend on which part of the country they are from. Full convergence would be positive in my neck of the woods and on much of the west coast. I acknowledge the campaign of the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association, INHFA, on that over the past few years and the difficulties the IFA has faced in trying to create a balance between needs in one part of the country and another. It is a difficult area.

Project Ireland 2040 was recently launched. I would like to see a debate on that matter in the near future. The last phase of the National Development Plan 2018-2027 includes many positives, including 26,000 social homes to be created by the Land Development Agency; the creation of the urban and rural regeneration funds; the climate action fund, for which €77 million was provided; 526 completed school building projects delivered with more than 48,000 school places; the start of the national broadband plan, which is hugely important, considering where we have gone since with Covid-19 and remote working, which has come into its own; the programme of investment in our cultural institutions such as the National Concert Hall, Crawford Art Gallery, the National Gallery of Ireland and the Abbey Theatre; more than €46 million for support of capital and equipment programmes; new wastewater and water treatment plants; flood relief schemes; phase 1 of the National Rehabilitation Hospital; and new primary care centres, to name a few.

However, the updated national development plan, which was published recently, has created a certain level of confusion regarding road projects, which has been much highlighted. It is important to get clarity on those because, for example, the Galway city ring road has been a much-talked-about road project. The planning application has been delayed a number of times and is due for decision again towards the end of November. On the other hand, the western rail corridor, which has a great deal of support, although not universal, and which many people would welcome, was not included in the plan. It is, however, included as part of the national rail review. As somebody commented, certainly on the road and rail projects, there was an attempt to please everybody and it has created a certain level of confusion, so we need clarity on those projects. They are too important to be left in limbo. I hope both of the projects I mentioned can be progressed. I would like the Leader to arrange a meeting in the near future on that.