Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair and I thank the Minister for his opening statement and his remarks.

I wish to address the issue of investment in key infrastructure, particularly in public transport and rail infrastructure. The all-Ireland rail review took place recently and it has a number of recommendation, as the Minister is aware. Some of these recommendations fit into the national development plan and some are outside of the plan. I am particularly concerned with issues around the north west and the regions that are now recognised as being economically behind other regions of the country. I often use the phrase that we must relieve Dublin and revive the rest. This does not mean to take anything out of Dublin but rather to make it work better. We also need the rest of the country to work better and better connectivity is key to that. I am curious to know what plans or ambitions the Government has to achieve this and to ensure that we get connectivity across the regions, particularly regions that have the opportunity to draw down additional funding from the European Union through the Trans-European Transport Network, TEN-T, programme and so forth. How can this be achieved and when can we see movement in this direction?