Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I regard this as a very important and critical debate. We have come out of a period of great difficulty where our country was bankrupt and where we were effectively borrowing to keep the lights on. We have now reached a stage where we are returning to full employment. We must get back to what would be the normal levers of Government, one of those being putting capital projects in place. I have a small bit of housekeeping first. In his speech, the Minister of State said that a new ten-year national plan for 2018 to 2027 will be published before the end of the year. Could he indicate when he expects that to happen? Will it be part of the budgetary process to be announced on budget day? Alternatively, will it be a separate announcement? When will that take place?

I will speak about local issues in the area I represent in Limerick in the limited time I have. People will know of my personal interest in the M20 Limerick to Cork motorway.