Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Specifically on Fingal and Balbriggan, we can look at what our Department has done with funding under the urban regeneration and development fund, URDF. We will use Balbriggan again as an example of very significant investment to improve the public realm, purchase vacant properties, open up Dublin Street, the quay, the harbour and all of that, and that work has been transformative. We want to support, and we are supporting, those smaller indigenous business.

The NPF is really important on the basis that it will drive future development, particularly with regard to population targets and growth. I want to see transport-orientated development as well, and that is why I have made specific reference to road, rail and airports. They are important from an investment perspective. I would see further investment through the URDF.

We have a fourth call that is being prepared. That has worked really well. I know there is preparation in Swords. I am being very parochial with regard to Fingal. Deputy O'Reilly is a Fingal Deputy too. Work is ongoing in other areas too, including Rusk and Lusk, with the town centre-first approach there. We are a major growth area. I expect in the national planning framework revision that the Belfast-Dublin economic corridor will remain a major economic driver. We want people to stay and live there too. I will come back in a supplementary.

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