Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Government's capital programme. Certain aspects of the programme, such as the commitments to primary care, mental health provision and the national children's hospital, have been praised by the media and experts. However, the programme's commitments mean nothing because they are subject to the availability of financial resources over the coming two or three years. Within weeks of the report's publication, rumours have started to appear in the media that community hospitals may close and mental health services may not receive the €35 million which is supposedly ring-fenced for next year.

Politicians often say that polls are a snapshot in time. This report is also a snapshot in time because it is already out of date. It will be subject to significant roll-backs over the coming several years while the Government continues to slash and burn public service programmes. The reduction of €750 million in next year's capital programme will stifle job creation and remove stimulus from the economy. Any benefits that would be generated from these construction projects will be lost forever. The result will be further austerity in next year's budget. Rolling back on capital investment does not make sense at this time. This issue has been thrashed out many times in the House and in public discourse. Capital investment should be maintained if not increased during this period because value for money can be achieved, construction costs are lower and they have a multiplier effect for the economy. They would boost confidence and, ultimately, increase revenue for the Exchequer.

Last week's North-South Ministerial Council meeting was lauded as a success for saving the A5-N2 project. However, the Government is only committing €50 million to the project in 2015 and 2016, which is no more than it offered to invest prior to the meeting. The only light coming from the meeting is the Northern Assembly's commitment to match this €50 million. Instead of a project that will deliver first class infrastructure and access to the north west, we will get €100 million worth of road improvements over the coming five years and a woolly commitment from the Taoiseach that further funding will be made available after 2017. The commitment to the A5-N2 project was part of an international agreement entered into by this State and its British counterpart. The Government can roll back on that commitment but there is no movement on other sovereign agreements. When it comes to the bail out, the Government cannot do anything. What is sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander. If this sovereign agreement does not mean anything then any other sovereign agreements into which we have entered do not mean very much either.

Regarding the upgrading of broadband, the Government's entire focus seems to be on developing wireless communications, which creates major fears within the community regarding the increasing number of masts required to provide all the wireless services. There is little confidence in local communities that this is acceptable to them. The recent Forfás report on broadband indicates that there is consensus across Europe that the roll-out of fibre should be the backbone of any state's broadband policy. Ireland has 13% fibre penetration for broadband access. Countries such as Latvia and Lithuania, which would be classified on the lower tier in the European Union for Internet access and the knowledge society, are considerably better than we are. Latvia has 41% access to fibre broadband and Lithuania has 44% access to fibre broadband. In ten years we will not get anywhere near those figures based on the Government's plans. As Forfás has pointed out, the capital infrastructure investment programme should commit to rolling out fibre to all towns with a population of more than 1,500 people. Forfás projects it would cost approximately €2.2 billion, but it would be a worthwhile investment that would pay back in spades to the State by allowing us truly to become part of the knowledge society. It would allow businesses to access markets and avail of Internet sales.

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