Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I agree with the Senator that public capital investment is an essential part of what a resilient economy looks like. I agreed with Deputy Doherty on the point as well. A core part of that aim is ensuring that capital investment is allocated efficiently, effectively and fairly throughout the entire country.

I will address the various points referred to by Senator Conway-Walsh, including the point about Knock Airport. In recent weeks Knock Airport has received additional funding. In recent days I have seen the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Ring, make several decisions on the allocation of funding for towns throughout Ireland. Only the week before last we put in place a €1 billion fund the main purpose of which is to support towns with fewer than 10,000 people. I agree with Senator Conway-Walsh that these are areas where we want to make more progress than we have been able to make in the past, when the country was in such difficulty. I differ with the Senator in that we are putting in place the instruments and tools now and I see them being used and drawn down.