Paul Bradford (Renua Ireland) | Oireachtas source

I subscribe to and support Senator Heffernan's comments on local radio. We must really examine the concept of the television licence, how it is used and how it could best be distributed. The Minister, Deputy Alex White, has presumably kicked to touch the whole issue of a broadcasting fee, but the current pot of people's money is entirely consigned to one supposed national broadcaster while local radio and other national radio stations go unfunded. Debate, consideration and a change of emphasis are needed.

I support the Senator also on the gaping hole in the new national development plan as far as people in the Cork-Limerick region are concerned. Certainly, the development of a Cork-Limerick motorway is essential from a regional and rural planning perspective. I heard the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, on the radio this morning talking about the fact that the project would cost €800 million, which is admittedly a sizeable sum. However, it is a project we need. If alternative funding mechanisms must be found, we must investigate those possibilities. The rail link to the airport will not carry a passenger until 2027. Apart from those two particular projects, we should have a debate - if there is time in terms of the longevity of the House - to discuss how we actually spend these national moneys and why it takes so long to build these important national infrastructure projects. I heard the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, explain yesterday about the planning process, which takes so long.