Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Minister's comments on the HSE and the Department of Health fill me with dread. That is based on experience. These guys know how to ask for a great deal of extra money and they do not move or do anything unless they get it. Given the clear bed shortage in Irish hospitals and the requirements of the National Maternity Hospital, the Minister's comments today do not fill me with positive hope and expectation.

Transport and housing in the modern world are intimately linked. In another country, one can take a train to the capital city, such as London, Paris or Amsterdam, or a major employment area, within an hour. We could do that if we electrified the Maynooth rail line and the south Kildare rail line as far as Portlaoise.

The Government is talking about being up early in the morning. Hopefully, that produces some sense of vision. However, there are wonderful towns on the lines in question where thousands of houses could be built at much cheaper prices. It would release a vast amount of additional housing potential. It would also bring us into line with what happens on the gold coast in Dublin - the east coast line – a rail line which Garret FitzGerald electrified more than 30 years ago. I am urging the Minister to have some vision and ambition with the capital plan.

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