Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is correct. That is the reason for bringing State agencies and Departments around the table. We have not had that joined-up thinking among our agencies over the years but we must have it, in one way or another, or we will not achieve our ambitions here. There is more than one way to skin a cat but we have to find ways to do this joint decision making for the benefit of the country, not just for the benefit of one agency or town over another. We must come together on this and that is what we are trying to achieve here. It comes back to the earlier point that one should set out one's thinking and ambition. It is easier to knock on various people's doors and have the conversation when one has a plan that we all buy into and on which we all agree. That is what we are trying to do here as best we can.

Chairman, I welcome your understanding of and belief in the process and your involvement in it over the last year by bringing your colleagues with you on the journey with the national planning framework, Ireland 2040, around the country and having a consultation. We are trying to get people to buy into this. While there have been more than 800 submissions I would prefer if there had been thousands more. Planning is exactly what you say - it is about looking at our children and their future and where we are going over the next 20 to 25 years. For me, planning is about bringing the future into the present, and that one does something about it. That is what we are trying to do here. We need to build on that and keep doing as much of that as we can.

I believe I have dealt with most of the questions. Niall Cussen might wish to comment further on the smart growth fund and David Walsh could also comment if he wishes to add something.