Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

Will the Leader invite the Minister for Finance or the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the House in the next few weeks to discuss the Government's plans to resolve the difficulties caused by last year's decision to scrap the first-time buyer's grant? Senators on this side of the House agree that it was a very bad decision. A debate on the matter could also involve a discussion of the abolition of the section 23 tax breaks. I believe that this decision has added about €100,000 to the value of every relevant property, with the consequence that houses are now even less affordable for young people. We need to debate in this House the affordability of housing for young people and the correction of the anomaly that exists.

I also ask the Leader to arrange for the Minister for Transport to come to the House to discuss road building projects throughout the country. A recent newspaper report suggested that the Minister is trying to fast-track the construction of motorways from Dublin to Cork and Galway. It is clear that other projects, such as the upgrading of the N9 and the Ennis and other bypasses, will be downgraded as a result. It is time for a debate on this matter in the House. We realise that money is not as plentiful as it was some time ago, but we need to decide whether to proceed with major projects at the expense of smaller-scale projects. Should priority be given to major projects? It would be helpful to have a debate on this matter in the run-up to the Estimates.