Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy's submission is very reasonable. However, infrastructural investment is divided between social investment and investment in economic infrastructure and it is difficult to be certain of an income stream from the former whether it is schools, health centres, etc. It is also the case that while there is potential in some economic investment such as tolling certain roads, there is no potential in other stretches of road to generate a return. The public private model has worked to some extent. ISIF has made significant progress and I am sure it is aware of this debate today. It is certainly progressive in its thinking and anxious to do more but it is also aware that it has to act prudently and within the mandate.

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