Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also welcome the opportunity to say a few works on the mid-term review of the capital plan 2016-2021. First, I wish to compliment everybody involved in getting this Chamber to its current state when it was opened yesterday. I can remember well two years ago, as Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, when I visited this room. I can assure Members that it was not in the same state that it is in today. The room looked as if a reception had taken place a number of nights beforehand and quite a number of wine and champagne glasses were strewn around the room. In the far corner was the Sam Maguire Cup. I did not think it would hang around the capital ever since. I compliment everybody, including the Ceann Comhairle, and everybody involved in the project.

I shall make a few points about the mid-term review of the capital plan. I am delighted that the Minister of State has given us an overview of where things are at the moment and where we can reach. Every area has a project. Like everybody else, there are quite a number projects in the west and the north west. During the Celtic tiger years the region did not get its fair share of capital spending and, thus, fell very much behind other regions. That fact can be seen quite effectively. The last census shows that a declining population exists in counties Mayo and Donegal. I ask that the Minister of State takes a serious look at the population census for 2016. I ask him to take the data into account when allocating funding to projects throughout the country.

I shall name a few projects. Ireland West Airport Knock is central to the prosperity of the region as it is an international airport. I ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Minister for Finance and the Taoiseach to take a close look at the airport as it needs capital investment and hangarage. The airport is a vital piece of infrastructure for the western and north-western region. People from the region can now commute to London on a weekly basis. In fact, people who work in London during the week can fly home and arrive in the western area quicker than if they travelled by car from Dublin. The airport also allows people to travel to the Algarve, Spain and Germany. The airport is a vital infrastructure that allows people who invest in the region, and to move in and out of the region. The airport is also very important from a tourism point of view as tourists from Germany and various parts of Europe can travel to the region.

The N5 and N26 roads were neglected during the Celtic tiger years. I ask that the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport fast forward capital for the N5. All of the planning stages have gone through and the fencing has been completed. The N5 project is ready for completion and ready to go to tender. I ask that the N5 project is placed high on the agenda when deciding terms and projects for the capital plan 2016-2021. There are a number of projects in the western region. In Mayo, in particular, there is the N5, N26 and the Ireland West Airport Knock and I ask that the Minister of State prioritises these projects.