Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. To be honest, I do not disagree with anything he said. It goes back to the question raised by Deputy Conway-Walsh with respect to changes that have been made to the public spending code and the manner in which the gateways will change. As well as that, the Minister has made changes to the delivery of the NDP around the delivery board, which was the preserve of civil servants and Secretaries General until he took over the chairmanship of it. The Minister also brought outside people to that board, which is needed in the context of what the Deputy raised, to address areas that are suffering particular delays, either in planning or in getting through the public spending code or delivery of the capital. Everybody accepts it is not a money issue based on the amount of money being made available, namely, €165 billion over the period of 2021 to 2030. It is a leadership issue. The Minister, in the context of the changes he has brought about in the delivery board and the public spending code, is attuned to that because he realises there are particular infrastructure needs throughout the country that must be addressed in the here and now. This is not to mention what the Deputy addressed in his initial question regarding demographic growth.

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