Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On other initiatives, have a look for rural Ireland. We need more transport but with joined-up thinking on how we operate it. Where is the budget for that or for the likes of road infrastructure from Galway to Donegal or the M20? We need balanced regional development in order to create opportunities for people.

I welcome the childcare measures but, once again, I have found out from other Deputies that it is a case of another push down the road, wait for a while and, sure, mammy and daddy will be all right for another year and they will survive. In fact, they may not survive because many of the creches are under ferocious pressure.

What we are trying to do is give this impression that we are going to mind you, look after you and give you a heap of money because there is a heap of money in the kitty but, in fact, damn all is going to come. The Minister should be honest, open and straightforward with people and not try to doctor up money that he did not give to anybody.

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