Mr. Stephen Blair:

I have two comments in response to the Deputy's comment on the National Transport Authority. Let me assure members that in the preparation of the regional strategies, we are working very closely with the National Transport Authority. Outside the greater Dublin Area certainly the legislation is different and the NTA follows the regional strategy and does not precede the strategy. They are working with us, for us to guide the development of the regional transport strategy for the regions.

Equally, Irish Water because of its current requirements to produce capital investment plans has to do it in advance of both the national planning framework and the regional strategies, but once the new strategies come on board Irish Water will revise its plans to be fully consistent with the regional strategies.