Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Brennan mentioned infrastructure. I will not go into that. I see infrastructure as an investment. It is not like current spending. There is a return on it. For instance, the new wastewater treatment plant in Arklow cost €140 million. It can generate 36,000 population equivalents. Let us say that is 10,000 houses potentially. The VAT on those houses and the development levies would be a return of multiples of the €140 million. I know other infrastructure must feed into houses also. Infrastructure is not current spending; it is an investment which has a return to the economy and to the Exchequer. I am sure the Department has done exercises on it. In an example such as that which I have given, there is a cash return to the Exchequer. It is like investing in our future. It is income that will be coming down the tracks in the period ahead.

I also have question on tourism. The drop-off in the number of tourists has been fairly dramatic. I have not seen the figures for April but in the first three months of the year, there was a significant drop-off. It was of the order of 30%. I am concerned about how this might feed in. How might we mitigate what is happening? It is a question I have just landed on the Minister, but I would like him to speak about the idea of infrastructure being an investment.