Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their contributions and the detailed answers they have given. Regarding the comments about capital spending, as they are aware, to stand still costs money but obviously demands are placed on capital expenditure during any Government's tenure, particularly with regard to the national development plan. The witnesses said that constraints regarding the Government's ability to deliver are not merely financial constraints. This applies in particular to housing and, it could be argued, to health and education where arguably record spending - current and capital - is provided for. The issue with housing may be related to planning. The issue with infrastructure may be related to planning. The ability to deliver a national development plan on time and on schedule is unknown to us and this may be because of planning.

In the coming weeks, the Government will publish a planning and development amendment Bill that we hope will address many of the logjams that exist. I am conscious of the length of time associated with judicial reviews, courts holding up planning and development and infrastructural capacity to deliver planning and development at a time of great crisis. I hope the witnesses agree with the sentiments behind that initiative and impart them to us in order to ensure that other parties also recognise that fact and help to ensure that the delivery of this change is timely and can deliver and address this issue as soon as possible despite my belief that it is very late in the day.