Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I genuinely welcome that we have reached a time in Irish politics when long-term strategic capital and infrastructural planning has become part of political discourse. This, of itself, is a good development. For far too long, we have staggered from Government to Government, mandate to mandate, budget to budget, on the basis of those who shout loudest and hold ministerial office delivering or being expected to deliver big ticket projects for their own constituencies. This approach has served us badly historically and without doubt has contributed to the imbalance that is evident across Ireland where Dublin is the major organ of the State without which all other regions of the country would fail to survive.

I will contradict myself somewhat as I genuinely believe that there is a flaw in this project, that is, the failure to direct adequate funding and strategic infrastructural development towards the north-west region, specifically, the central Border counties, including my constituency of Cavan-Monaghan. There are certain mentions of Cavan and Monaghan. The commitment to delivering the N2 Clontibret to the Border, the N2 Ardee to south of Castleblaney and the N3 Virginia bypass are all welcome and important, but these are long-flagged developments. The reiteration of the Government's commitment to "participation in the further development of the A5" North of the Border rings hollow. Let me offer a view of connectivity from Dublin to the north west. In my view, dual-carriageway has reached over capacity and is outdated. I believe in time we will look back and ask why we did not go ahead and build a motorway. What of a high speed rail service, Dublin to Letterkenny, with stops in Monaghan and Strabane and a spur to Derry. These are all worthy of consideration.

What of the restoration of the Ulster Canal? There is a mention of it in the document, but to move on to "the next phase". What is that and when will it happen? I want to see the Ulster Canal - a watercourse - restored as an inland waterway that will bring a new vista and new life and activities into areas long neglected, including Clones and Monaghan town. Greenway developments are fine but I now want to see a waterway.

Looking at the issue of health of which my colleague has spoken, I note the redevelopment of St. Davnet's campus in Monaghan signalled for providing a new primary care centre, a mental health unit and a 20-bed elderly residential setting. All of that, of course, is welcome as far as it goes. Sadly, as I know all of these projects only too well, there are disappointments for some behind each of these steps. That said, the biggest problem I have here is that these are not new projects or proposals.

There is nothing in this plan, although I welcome the fact that we are now talking planning long term, that is innovative or game-changing, in particular, for the central Border counties and the north-west region, which will allow us to address the historical imbalance and neglect by successive Governments. At a time when the reunification of the island is no longer a distant vision or pipedream as some may have seen it, there was an opportunity here - I hope it is still there and that this is not set in stone - for us to start to plan for this major transformation of the island and its potential, North and South. By 2040, I believe Ireland will be united and, therefore, Project Ireland 2040 should have been a framework to make this process as seamless infrastructurally as possible.

See this speech in context