Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

Challenges remain and our population is growing. As we become more prosperous, the number of two car households is increasing. Lifestyles are also changing. Decisions on changing jobs or houses are major ones which affect family life. House prices and not wishing to interrupt children's education impact on the way we live. This in turn impacts on transport infrastructure. These are the challenges presented by a successful economy and the Government has set about meeting these challenges.

In last year's budget, my Department was given the extraordinary opportunity by the Government to prepare a plan to transform this country's transport network with a ten-year financial framework. The opportunity was great but the challenge immense.

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