Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government is committed to providing for balanced regional development, which is why we have invested in tourism and made great progress in attracting foreign direct investment in many parts of the country. We appreciate the need for investment and employment to be generated across the island. On the contribution of transport, we are continuing to support the maintainenance of the local and regional road network. I go back to the original point I made to the Deputy, namely, this is a project that will cost in excess of €800 million. As much as I want to see a project like it happen, my challenge is to find funding for it and, if it is available, to ask whether it could be spent in other ways that would deliver balanced regional development and improve the ability of commuters and residents to get around the country. I have to note that I asked the Deputy the simple question of where he would secure the €800 million necessary, while supporting everything else the Government was doing. He was not able to answer that question.

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