Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

The Bulmers analogy is important. We should always be asking if there is any added benefit from a particular layer. If there is not, it should be got rid of. For example, the Minister, Deputy James Browne brought a proposal to Cabinet recently that there were four gates to get through social housing. That is not the case now. We got rid of the fourth, third and second gates. There is now only one gate. These are the things Government has to be pretty ruthless on. If there is a reason for something being there, grand, but if there is not, we need to move it on.

The Minister, Deputy Chambers, the Taoiseach, and the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, and I are having conversations around the issues the Deputy highlighted. We are going to see a significant increase in capital spending, but how do we then ensure that delivery is as swift as possible? There are two quick points I would make. Generally, on infrastructure delivery including water, the reforms that the Minister, Deputy Chambers, introduced in his Department included the establishment of the new infrastructure delivery unit. The people there are responsible not just for counting the money but also for asking where a particular project is at. Irish Water is involved in that. Second, particularly in some smaller towns and villages, including those the Deputy referenced, we have to look at allowing developers to get on with putting in place the necessary infrastructure to Irish Water's standards. If a developer is willing to build eight, ten or 12 houses and we are prepared to allow that developer to do the internal infrastructure, why not let them do the external infrastructure as well? There is openness on the part of Irish Water in this regard.

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