I rise today to raise the issue of BusConnects in Limerick and the mid-west. The BusConnects programme has been spoken about a lot by the Department of Transport. It has been postponed in Limerick from 2025 to 2027, and we have now received communication that it has been postponed until 2028. The Government is always talking about balanced regional development. Seven of 11 phases have been completed in Dublin, and it is also going ahead in Cork. However, it keeps being pushed back for Limerick.

In the context of balanced regional development, Limerick city is the capital of the mid-west, and in terms of economic development there is huge resistance and upset in the business community because many business parks and the development of businesses are dependent on this BusConnects programme. I was at an event in Annacotty Business Park not so long ago that was hosted by one of the businesses in Limerick Chamber of Commerce. People were speaking about the fact that there are 3,000 employees in the business park but it is not connected to any bus service. It is something that I raised with the National Transport Authority when it had a briefing in Buswells Hotel recently, and a representative told me that while there is a commitment to it, they really do not know when it is going to happen.

There is an imbalance. I know that the chamber has written to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. I would like the Leader's support in contacting the Minister about this unbalanced regional development.