Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party) | Oireachtas source

Reference was made to the population-based delivery of houses. This discriminates against people who have not had their infrastructure upgraded for decades to allow their populations to grow. If the population grows all around the country, we can make a business case for a fast rail network. If we do not allow development in smaller areas where there has been no investment in infrastructure for years, such as places with populations of 3,000, 4,000 or 5,000, and if they cannot expand because they are at capacity, we cannot make a business case for a rail or transport network for the whole of Ireland. Concentrating on highly populated areas discriminates against other areas that wish to develop. Allowing places other than highly populated areas to develop gives an equal opportunity to everywhere else, but it also allows for a business model for a fast rail or bus service for places no matter where they are the country. That is what we actually need to do. No matter where one lived in the country, one would be able to work, but we can achieve this only if there is investment in infrastructure around the country, not just in the highly populated areas.