Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. He outlined the significant challenge we have. It is interesting that the country is at a point where, for the first time in well over a century, our population is growing rapidly, which is very positive. Of course, it presents the challenge of decarbonising our targets and real numbers, which are not calculated as a proportion of our economy. While we have a growing population, we also have a growing economy, which is what we want, with the simultaneous challenge of decarbonising it such that there will be a 51% cut in emissions by 2030 based on the 2018 baseline. That is an immense challenge but I think we are making great inroads.

We had a very good engagement last week in the Dáil, I am sure the Minister will recall, on the importance of balanced regional development, and I would argue this is also key to the sustainable development challenge we face. If we want a bigger and thriving economy, that needs to be balanced and there are all kinds of arguments regarding the need to realign transport, for example, which is a big part of it. I made the case that in respect of this vision of Ireland for 2040, 2050 and 2060 as rebalanced - I am being very parochial here - the mid-west and the Shannon-Limerick access would be a significant part of that. It is a real opportunity to counterbalance the economic weight and growth of Dublin over recent decades.

The fact that the population is likely to grow and, based on a recent ESRI report, will exceed 1 million by 2040 brings into question the size of the national development plan and how we pay for the kinds of infrastructure projects, and the right infrastructure projects, that will cater for the growing population while also ensuring that it happens in the right parts of the country and helps to grow our economy, which underpins the society that we are to serve. Perhaps the Minister could comment on how the national development plan might need to be altered in the coming months and years to make that happen.