Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Regarding Deputy Shane Moynihan's comments, it is true that his constituency is a rapidly growing one. In the considerations for the updated and renewed national development plan, we will look at what can be included and what types of developments can be done, particularly in respect of rail services more generally, public transport and roads infrastructure, particularly in new areas. Very often, the necessary road infrastructure follows too late after the construction of very large housing areas. Recently, while visiting clubs with the Deputy I have been struck by the fact that the recreational amenity and supporting infrastructure of Dublin is much different from and way behind the rest of the country in terms of sports facilities that clubs can enjoy and sustain for a longer period. The leases seem to be very short.

The councils seem to have a very unacceptable and unsustainable relationship with many of the clubs and organisations. It is very different from the rest of the country, and we discussed that. I would like to see that developed over the lifetime of this Government, with better facilities created, but I get the main point the Deputy is making about roads, the Luas to Lucan and the infrastructure in Adamstown and Clonburris.

To respond to Deputy Cleere, the Kilkenny extension of the northern ring road is extremely important. Kilkenny is a growing city and is very attractive to many people. Many people visit Kilkenny, including many Corkonians, but it needs the infrastructural development that goes with that. The Deputy spoke a great deal about road safety. There is no doubt enhancing roads enhances road safety and has eliminated a lot of injury and death on our roads. The transformation on our roads over the past 25 years was one of the factors that has brought our death rate way down. We are at a moment in time when the numbers are creeping back up, so we need to nip all that in the bud and get deaths back down again. Investing in roads will enable us to do that. I appreciate the focus the Deputy has put on the road safety aspect of the Waterford to Cahir road. On the various schemes he mentioned, we are committed in the programme for Government to expanding those and getting some traction on them.

Turning to Deputy Conway-Walsh, again, we have made no proposals to end RPZs. We want to help and support renters. The Deputy's party has proposed a no-fault eviction ban. If we get into that area, we will reduce supply in time. That is the type of intervention that will hit any chance of getting more people into the rental market. This is all a balance but I think that over recent years, people have been unsure of what the Government will do next. There needs to be a stable environment to get more people into the rental market - both individuals and funds and so forth.

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