Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply, the contents of which I note and agree with generally. However, I believe there rests in the hands of the local authority more powers than it seems to want to exercise. In the first instance, I cannot understand the reason it takes a year for the arbitration process to be reinstated. It should have happened long ago. I do not know how long it will continue but I do know that the future of the reinstatement of the development at the town centre in Naas is largely dependent on the extent to which that matter can be resolved.

In the past, we have seen arbitration issues drag on for years up and down the country. It is time that we set an example in that enough is enough; we have waited long enough for the restart of the town centre development in Naas. It is not possible to wait forever. The delay will do irreparable damage to the restoration of the development, the confidence of the trading people of the area and to our standing in today's marketplace if we cannot see the ways and means of moving on that particular project.

John Steinbeck famously wrote about the grapes of wrath. If he was around today, I am sure he would be inspired equally by the cranes of Naas. They have been there for long enough. It is time they were moving again. I appeal to the Minister of State to make a telephone call to somebody who knows where the arbitrators are ensconced and try to prevail upon them the urgent necessity to carry out their function regarding the Naas town centre as quickly as possible.

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