Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

One of the reasons we are in this crisis is the decision of the Fianna Fáil-Green Party Administration to take responsibility for building away from local authorities. When I was a member of Kilkenny County Council, I spoke out against this at length. My colleagues and I wanted to stop all of the expertise from being taken away from the county councils. We foretold that this would happen if this responsibility was taken from the county councils. We talked about rent regulation. Some of our Fianna Fáil colleagues across the council chamber often said we were anti-development. We called for regulation of the tax incentives for hotels that were being built during the boom and an examination of the effect the new hotels would have on the existing industry. They had an effect on the existing industry. When the crash came, we all suffered.

This capital programme should be considered by comparison with what we were at in 2011. Nobody would have believed at that time that we could deliver this programme four and a half years later. I think this capital programme is very much to be welcomed. If people are mealy-mouthed about it, that is entirely their opinion. I think it is a fantastic programme. I suggest that in time, it will be seen as a great and well-delivered programme. As my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, has said, it is a prudent capital programme. Despite the worst economic downturn in the history of the State, we have provided for a huge schools building programme. I think this Government has done a great job. I am looking forward to living in Ireland in the future and availing of all the projects that are contained in this capital programme.

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