Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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The recent ESRI report considered 12 different factors, including whether obsolescence rates would be high or low and whether migration would be base line, high or low. It spoke about internal migration as well. This is a matter that needs to be considered. Is there a draw to Dublin from the regions among people who want to move to Dublin? Is that draw being created because the investment is going into Dublin? If we get back to balanced investment, we might reduce internal migration and people will be happy to live within the regions. Under the national development plan, it was smart to say what the investment package and planning framework would be and that the two elements would work together hand in hand. If we were to look at the NDP spend since 2018, to estimate where the investment had gone into the regions and to examine whether we have achieved the objectives of the national planning framework, I expect we would see a lag. The investment takes time. We cannot spend money for a year and expect the population to balance out immediately. Has such a study been undertaken? I believe Mr. Hogan referred to one. I am interested in seeing whether there is evidence that shows investing achieves that balance. How long do we wait to see whether a balance is achieved?