Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

New ideas may be required to deal with the housing crisis. Third level colleges have a lot of land, especially those around Dublin, on which they could be well able to build proper accommodation, be it apartments or whatever else. This could act as a money stream for them and alleviate the problems and pressure of the housing crisis. We may have to think outside the box, as the usual way of dealing with this problem might not be enough.

Significant amounts of funds are available for the road network repairs. Plans for the Moycullen and Tuam-Gort bypasses are well advanced. I have not heard about the Strokestown bypass project coming on stream as it involves the N4. Sadly, however, in 2011, the west was taken out of the allocation of core funding for TEN-T, trans-European transport networks. It is intended to make Shannon Foynes Port a deep sea port, which is a welcome development. There are, however, structural deficits in the west which has significant tourism potential. If we are to exploit it, the necessary road network and other transport infrastructure will need to be in place. Knock airport needs core funding that would help to ensure we would have balanced regional development. With the number of problems we have in Dublin, if we keep driving everything it, there will be larger problems.

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