John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will try to make six minutes into two minutes. I thank the Minister. I will try to be brief and confine my points. The national development plan in the context of the national planning framework is very important for areas such as County Waterford, which is identified as one of the strategic areas in the national planning framework for population growth of 30,000 to 35,000 between now and 2040. I have said it before and I will say it again that I believe the litmus test for the national planning framework and the national development plan will be the successful development of Waterford and the growth plans set out in the national planning framework. This development can be in connectivity, health, education, housing and regeneration. The Government has made the significant investment of €110 million in the North Quays project and last week an investment was announced of €27.6 million from the urban regeneration and development fund for the city centre. There are many development plans for brownfield sites and concentric city centre development.

My colleague, Senator Ahearn, mentioned the development of the N24 between Waterford and Limerick. It connects the mid-west to the south east and goes onwards to Rosslare Europort. Exports via Rosslare Europort are particularly important in the context of Brexit. Piecemeal development of bypasses around towns will not cut it. They will not reduce the travel times on interurban routes and the national planning framework aims for an average speed of 90 km/h. Bypasses around small sections will not cut it. The N24 is critical in this context, as is the development of the Waterford campus of the technological university of the south east and the further development of University Hospital Waterford's campus. I have a lot more to say but I will leave it at that.