Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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97. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will detail the efforts being made under the national development plan for growing population centres, such as Swords, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10258/23]

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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I ask the Minister to detail the efforts being made under the national development plan, NDP, for growing population centres, including the county town in the fastest growing community in Europe, Swords.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this. As he will be aware, the NDP, published in October 2021 provides a detailed and positive vision for Ireland over a decade, involving total public investment of €165 billion.

The urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, was established to deliver more compact and sustainable development, as envisaged under this project. It currently partially funds 132 projects across the country. Focusing on Swords town, one URDF project was approved and provided funding of €375,000 to complete the development of a strategy to improve the resilience of the local economy and provide for an enhanced living environment. The draft sustainable Swords strategy, including the draft public realm and transport strategy, was published for public consultation in 2022. It was presented and agreed by the members of the Deputy's local council in December 2022.

In addition to this, the Fingal county development plan seeks to achieve a minimum of 30% of housing in Swords by way of compact growth. In 2023, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications will progress the delivery of its world-class connectivity and communications plan, the national broadband plan. Swords town is an area where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high-speed broadband services.

In addition, transport connectivity is vital for the entire country, but particularly for an area growing as fast as the one the Deputy referred to. BusConnects is an important plan for our city. As the Deputy knows, a new network delivery plan is under way, which includes within it a stronger spine of public transport, including Swords, which is estimated to be delivered in 2024.

The Minister, Deputy Harris, has approved for Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETBs the next stage in developing a college of the future to be located in Swords with a proposal to serve 1,000 full-time students.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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I do not need to sell the importance of investment and intervention in support of the activities of the local authority to my fellow northsider because I know how acutely aware the Minister is of this. I had the privilege of being with him at the announcement of the NDP in November 2015 at Heuston Station. I was not in position to attend the most recent iteration, which provided nearly a 40% increase in the overall budget. Part of the problem is that Swords is almost a city with in excess of 40,000 people. It has a unique characteristics and national importance because of the proximity of Dublin Airport. Over many decades and many governments there has been a lack of investment in critical infrastructure. While the motorway is there and operational, I believe that BusConnects will not be delivered until 2024. Metro is eight years away. There is so much to be done in this community and I want to ensure that the NDP under the Minister's control is delivered in an appropriate way for what is an emerging city.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I will certainly work with the Deputy on that. I am very familiar with all of the issues in Swords that he mentioned. I am also very much aware of the impact that population growth has had on the existing infrastructure, such as schools, public transport and all the issues he touched on. The projects I have outlined in my answer, particularly from a transport point of view can make a difference to the issues he raised in terms of the future quality of life for the community within Swords. I will certainly work with him to ensure that the projects I mentioned are delivered within the deadlines. I assure him of my commitment to the metro project. While I know it is still some way away, the impact it will have on the communities he represents will be so profound and so significant, it is vital we stick with that project, which, as he knows, I am committed to doing.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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Quality of life is key to all of this. We can spend as much money as we like, but if we do not improve the quality of life for the people already there, Swords will no longer be the vibrant county town it is. Of course, I recognise that it takes time for these projects to get out of the blocks, through planning and all the rest of it. I am acutely aware that consideration of metro, for instance, is currently before the board and a decision is due on or about 26 May. I am very aware of €50 million investment by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in the college of the future in Swords, which will be transformational in terms of educational choices that students across Dublin's north side will make in the near future. There have been almost generations of lack of investment particularly in transport infrastructure, but I cast no stones at any particular government. I know these projects are in the schedule, but I am keenly focused on assisting the Minister in ensuring they are delivered.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Because some of these projects are so big, it takes a long time to do them. Even with that recognition, I know many commuters feel that we have been talking about projects such as the metro for a long time and they want to see reality. I fully take the Deputy's points regarding the different projects he has raised on behalf of his constituents. He can be assured that I will work with him to do all I can to ensure the projects that we have referred to are happening and there are signs of visible progress for the communities he represents.