Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I assure the Deputy there is great urgency attaching to this matter. Maintaining a volume of our investment in capital projects, howsoever financed, will ensure we sustain some level of activity in the construction sector and maintain much-needed skills there. I agree with the Deputy in that regard.

There has not been a change of the criteria in regard to PPPs. The question the Deputy tabled relates to an alternative funding mechanism which I had outlined in the budget and which is being actively explored and will be brought to a conclusion as quickly as possible.

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