Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Obviously, before and after the budget, the Opposition will focus on where it would like extra money to be spent and all the areas in respect of which it would like to see improved investment. Given that the Minister's brief has become bigger than the area of public expenditure and that he is now also charged with responsibility for ensuring sustainable growth into the future, I want to ask him about capital investment. Taking a medium to long-term view, there are obvious areas of capital infrastructure that will give a return to the State, such as schools, hospitals and necessary roads infrastructure. However, what are the other areas of the economy in respect of which the Minister envisages that capital investment will give us the best longer-term return and ongoing sustainable growth into the future?