Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

——and used the same rhetoric they are using in this House and elsewhere to talk about building some of these houses and facilitating local authorities to build houses on the basis that the resources are now available, that would be a far more positive contribution towards dealing with housing problems of many people than is the case currently. I had to listen in the other House to people talking in a derogative manner about builders. Who builds houses? I thought builders built houses. Are we supposed to denigrate the builders and still have the houses built? I do not know what they are talking about and I do not believe they know themselves. That sort of politics of envy and nonsense does not do any service. If that is the vision the Opposition wants to bring forward, we have a vision that far expands our horizons than what it has to offer. People are talking about the vision. This year alone we are spending €56 billion in Exchequer funded services. If that is multiplied by seven and do not put in an inflator, that is €390 million. We are spending money. It is an investment.

Regarding the mid-term review of the ESRI on the last plan, which is not as ambitious or as comprehensive as this one, the return on that investment was 14%. When the finalised amounts come through under the community support framework in mid-2008 and the full term review is done, I guarantee that the return will be of that nature also. How will we make sure that we have a country that can continue to grow jobs and have a vision for full employment here unless we expand the productive capacity of the economy? We either do it or we do not.

Other people tell me we should only spend so much. If we want to avoid inflationary growth and ensure we can build more capacity and deal with the commute problem that has occurred as a result of the social changes and the advance in accelerated economic development we are now experiencing, we must deal with those problems but that will cost money. The fact is we are able to do them in a way that is within budget and that is robustly analysed and appraised. If we want to appraise everything ad infinitum and let opportunities pass, we can do that but it will be dearer to do these projects next year. We must get on with the job and do it. We have a ten year transport programme that is working. We will have a metro and additional Luas lines in this city. We will have an integrated transport network in this city. Dublin city will have an integrated transport network. All the naysayers can say what they like. They have been saying it since we began the public transport programme but the Government will deliver it. The Government will also deliver a national motorway system and continued investment in the rail network.

The framework of the national development plan is based on an average 4% to 4.5% annual economic growth in the next seven years, imminently achievable according to every finance house and financial commentator. The last plan was based on an annual average economic growth of 5.2%, placing the new target in a moderate range and within the bounds of possibility. An inflation rate of 2% can be achieved under the harmonised index inflation because there will be more balanced growth.

Balanced regional development is being brought to the centre of our priorities. The 2002 national spatial strategy will be implemented. Regional guidelines had to be put down to ensure the regional planning guidelines were in line with the spatial strategy. County and local area plans, plus the gateway concept, have been put forward. All gateway needs studies have been completed. This was necessary work as a precursor to implementing the overall national spatial strategy and ensuring the best return on the investment. The gateways are in place because we want to effect regional development. To do so, critical mass must be created in the regions. The national spatial strategy sets out the physical development of the country by 2020.

We must also ensure Ireland has an adaptable, flexible and educated workforce for future employment. IDA Ireland has many future industrial projects in the pipeline because companies still want to invest in Ireland due to the quality of the workforce.

Investment will continue in our social infrastructure. We will have a modern hospital system, schools that will meet the challenges of the 21st century and broadband rolled out to every part of the country. We have set out the way in which these objectives can be achieved. The resources are available to do so because of the economic policies we have implemented.

Those who claim the Government has no vision can go off to tell the L & H at Belfield. The Government's vision is based on reality. There is a transformation taking place in this country that has never been seen before. The past ten years are proof positive of it. The next ten years can also be proof positive of it if the right policies are in place, public finances are sustained and people have the experience, will, wit and opportunity to implement the programmes.

The idea that the national development plan is a conglomerate of spending demands could not be further from the truth. One does not simply get one's way with the Department of Finance. If one did, we would not have a Department of Finance. The Department is there to robustly suggest what the priorities are. The building blocks have been established for social infrastructure, housing, schools and hospitals to ensure sustainable growth and provide for a better quality of life. Towards 2016 confirms within the social partnership model that economic progress and social progress are complimentary and mutually dependent. It is not a question of growth for the sake of growth. There, however, seems to be some feeling that we do not need growth as we have reached some state of Nirvana.

Environmental sustainability is another feature of the national development plan. By introducing these sectorial strategies that have been agreed and priced, communities will become more environmentally sustainable. We have greatly improved our EU commitments under the wastewater and increased recycling directives. The Government's record shows it has outstripped any other of its predecessors in making environmental sustainability an important economic component for sustainable growth.

This development plan should not be seen on its own. It is part of a continuum with Towards 2016. When we reach 2016 we can feel we have built a State of which the founding fathers would be proud. It is not a case that we will solve every problem. One absurdity of current political discourse is that no progress has been made if a problem can be pointed out. Nothing could be further from the truth.