Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The provisions in the Appropriation Bill, particularly the carry-over in regard to capital expenditure, are obviously a necessity. In terms of dealing with housing, we not only have to use fiscal rectitude but we also must ensure we are more imaginative if we are to solve the housing problem for people in this country.

I would like to draw attention to two particular capital projects which Louth County Council has submitted to the urban regeneration and development fund. One of them is a project to develop Bridge Street and Linenhall Street in Dundalk, which is a continuity of a piece of work that has already started on Clanbrassil Street and the St. Nicholas Quarter. This work is an absolute necessity for the town and for ensuing it is not left with what sometimes happens in this State, namely, half a job. It needs to be completed and it does not necessarily need huge money to do so. The other project, the port access northern cross route, has been championed by my constituency colleague, Deputy Munster, for many years. It was referred to earlier by Deputy Nash. It is a huge project that will cost more than €70 million, but it is an absolute necessity for the development of Drogheda.

Finally, I remind the Minister that we have been promised a primary care centre for Dundalk. We need to ensure that project falls within the timeframes that were given.

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