Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Following on from Deputy Bruton's contribution, today is a positive day. The context of this plan is that 37% of the expenditure must relate to climate initiatives and 20% must relate to digital investments and reforms. It is great, therefore, that my county, Cork, and Cork North-Central in particular, has been promised €185 million as part of the proposal for a massive job in Kent Station, replicating what has been done in the past on the eastern or Cork-Cobh line. There is also the northern line heading from Cork city through Blackpool to Blarney and, possibly in the future, Monard and Mallow. I spoke to a representative of Iarnród Éireann this morning. Iarnród Éireann is very excited about this proposal. It will involve the full electrification of the track in Cork before any other county. It has gone to tender for a number of electric locomotives and carriages. This is a massively important day for Cork. There are people in the Chamber whom I can hear below me - I cannot see them, unfortunately - and who would be the first to decry the lack of investment in the north side of Cork city. Today is a big boost for the north side and we have to welcome this news.

Putting my teaching hat on, I also welcome the reforms that will focus on digital literacy and digital skills throughout our education system. This will involve the mass purchase of ICT equipment for schools. The roll-out of broadband to more than 1,100 primary schools was mentioned. That is massive. In the context of dealing with the pandemic, it is very welcome.

An investment of €20 million is mooted for waste water treatment plants as part of a river basin management plan. While that is welcome, it only scratches the surface of the problems we have throughout the country with Irish Water and waste water treatment. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, plans to bring forward further funding initiatives for Irish Water later in the summer, but massive investment is required in our towns and villages to make them ripe for development into the future. We can all name towns and villages in our constituencies. In my constituency, Carrignavar and Whitechurch are both within commuting distance of the city centre, ten to 15 minutes, but unfortunately are handicapped by the fact that they cannot develop on the basis of a lack of waste water treatment services. I urge the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, to work with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, into the future and address some of the shortcomings, particularly in respect of wastewater.

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