Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Haughey's last comment is true. Following on from the collapse of the construction sector during the recession 100,000 jobs were lost and construction came to a stand-still. We are starting from a low base to catch up on that curve. There is €42 billion on the table in terms of the capital programme for the next number of years. The scale of what is to be provided from an infrastructure point of view is exceptionally challenging. Currently, there is approximately 3.5 million sq. ft. of commercial space under development and a further 1 million sq. ft. under refurbishment. As the Deputy will be aware, work in respect of the cross-city Luas project is ongoing, as is work on connecting bridges and extension of the DART line. These are infrastructural issues that are challenging. We also need to address the supply of housing, which is very much on the rear foot, particularly in the social area, and the Government is addressing this as a matter of priority.

We have set out the strategy. There are 14 different sectors being analysed by the Department. As has been said, we want to increase our indigenous exports, including food, to €26 billion by 2020, which is a 26% increase on the figure for 2015. We also want to generate 30,000 more jobs in tourism by 2020 and €5 billion in overseas tourism revenues by 2025, all of which is challenging but achievable. We want to secure 900 new foreign direct investments between now and 2019 and to increase our international-----

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