Mr. Tom Leahy:

Regarding the urban-rural divide, over the years the Irish Academy of Engineering has produced a number of evidence-based reports. One of those important reports was entitled Atlantic City Regions - Towards 2040. An idea was first postulated about 15 years ago that Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford should work together as an economic unit. This would give them the ability to act as a counterpoint, particularly to Dublin, and ensure balanced regional development throughout the country. In terms of the investment to make sure that it comes in the rural areas, I note that the extra €2 billion that came from the Government to Uisce Éireann to provide additional water services provided a specific €300 million ring-fenced fund for towns and villages. The rural areas have certainly not been forgotten about, in that ring-fenced funding was provided there.

The initial question was about one big idea that might get things moving again. There is and we have tried to highlight this. I have worked in local government for 39 years and ten years in utilities. These 49 years give me a certain perspective on life. The biggest problem of all is that there are far too many steps, punctuated by gaps. It is very much like a game of snakes and ladders, with far too many snakes and not enough ladders on the board.