Gabrielle McFadden (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I may be a national Senator but I am from Athlone. I warmly welcome Project Ireland 2040, which is a great idea. We have long been batting for such an initiative. The pattern has been that we build houses, schools and hospitals after an area experiences population growth. Project Ireland 2040 is a plan for where people will live and work and how they will travel to work, which is to be welcomed. It is time for such planning to be undertaken. Successive Governments, many led by Fianna Fáil, did not plan for the future. Project Ireland 2040 is a good plan.

As all Members are aware, I long campaigned for the designation of Athlone as a regional centre and I am delighted that that has happened. We must ensure that we put money where our plans are and that we have plans.