Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

For many communities in Dublin that have been bypassed by much of the economic growth and positive developments in our country in recent years, what has happened today is not merely the collapse of a funding mechanism but the collapse of hope. Their confidence that local and national Government will take their concerns seriously and do something for them has also collapsed. We should not stand up in this House today and assert that what has happened is the collapse of a funding mechanism when there are people in this city who were looking forward to new homes, who were right to expect them but who, because of events beyond their control, now find they cannot have them.

If any Member of this House were to table a parliamentary question or to lodge a freedom of information request about the role of public private partnerships, he or she would be told the information is unavailable because it is commercially sensitive. However, when something goes wrong with the operation of these schemes, we are the people who are — rightly — expected to stand up, show leadership and give confidence back to our communities that their hopes and aspirations can be delivered on. Urgent action is required to deal with the devastation of five communities in our city.

Within the EU, Ireland is one of the most reliant on public private partnership. Most of Transport 21, for example, is reliant on their operation. We must have a discussion about how they operate nationally, about the lack of information on them available to Members of the Oireachtas and on how they can be reined in to ensure they operate in the public interest.