Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)

We are talking about housing and targets. As Opposition Members have stated, the targets are not being reached. Let us not get into the semantics of whether they will be reached, because what will stop them being reached is infrastructure. We have a situation in Clonshaugh where planned housing is going to be delayed due to a lack of water services. In this context, it was interesting to listen to the ESRI chairman, Mr. Sean O'Driscoll, who is a member of the new infrastructure task force. Credit to the Government for setting this up. However, the fact that Mr. O'Driscoll came out on the record and spoke in a personal capacity shows a certain element of trepidation, at least on his behalf and possibly among other members. He addressed issues such as judicial reviews and planning delays. He said the bar for judicial reviews was far too low. He spoke about the need to extend the Part 8 planning permissions enjoyed by local councils and to tell the EU that Ireland had an infrastructure emergency to overcome regulation and red tape.

What I would like to focus on is the need to secure multi-annual funding for utilities and major projects. I am referring to water services, our national grid and some other areas. It was said was that tough, brave and exceptional decisions were needed. We need a commitment. The CEO of Uisce Éireann and the managing director of ESB Networks are on this task force but there is no sign that the required legislative changes are going to be agreed by the 1 July target. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, has reportedly said that nothing is ruled in or out and everything is on the table. Can I get a commitment from the Taoiseach that, for the first time in the history of the State, we will have a proper structure of multi-annual funding? We see local councils with a three-year rolling capital programme. Why can we not set out a five-year rolling capital programme for infrastructural projects such as water and the grid?

I am digressing slightly, but we talk about AI technology. That will use a lot more energy when we have many more data storage companies coming in, and the income potential of that. We cannot have that and also have electricity supply and build houses. We have the potential to be a major energy exporter in terms of converted hydrogen and stored electricity, which also feeds into the housing situation. Will the Taoiseach commit that the Government will agree to set out a multi-annual funding structure, which will also give certainty to the training colleges in order to start recruiting the homegrown staff we need?

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