Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the national development plan, we are renegotiating the capital envelope. As I go around the country and talk to people, I am finding that wastewater and water infrastructure are key stumbling blocks to development. We are trying our best in the context of the new capital envelope that is being negotiated. We all have to be honest. Irish Water was deprived of many of its funding streams. If that had not been the case, it could have stood on its own two feet and raised the money to allow it to deliver key infrastructure. Obviously, it cannot do that now. We rely on the State to step in with regard to capital plans. That is what has been agreed. We are trying to do that now, but I am acutely aware of the developments up and down the country that have been delayed because key infrastructure is not in place. A €100 million fund for towns and villages was announced. We have much more to do and I fully accept that.