Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, and the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, for coming to the House to present to us on Project Ireland 2040. We see clearly Fine Gael in government has put plans in place and together we are looking at evaluating the 2040 plan under the current Government, but this dates back to 2018. It was about putting plans in place, and ensuring there is a reserve of funding to deliver on projects that are crucial. There are now more than 5 million people in the Republic of Ireland and there is such a dire need for infrastructure. I welcome seeing the logo of the NDP in my area because it means the delivery of roadways. An example of that is Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge. It is going make our area of Roscommon safer. It is going to ensure there are fewer accidents on roads because we are delivering incredible infrastructure. That route is going to be a priority we are looking to have delivered on this year, where reaching the next stage under tender is concerned.

The other projects are hospitals. In Ballinasloe, I am delighted to see our 50-bed ward block. The Taoiseach had an opportunity to visit that last Friday to see the construction in progress. That is all part of us delivering on Project Ireland 2040, which is delivering for the people in our towns and villages across the country.

In my area of Roscommon and Galway there is a focus on the rural regeneration fund which is under the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, the urban regeneration and development fund under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. The disruptive technologies innovation fund has been crucial in driving change at third level. It has funded excellence in research groups across all our universities and it has rewarded innovation and innovative technologies in Ireland. It is about people in Ireland driving change and also working with industry. The climate action fund is another crucial part of Project Ireland 2040. The RRDF is delivering in many different ways. It has provided remote working hubs and looked at the reuse of old buildings to tackle vacancy and dereliction. There is a building in my home town of Ballinasloe that was the basis of a strong application that won more than €500,000 under just transition. The plan is to make it into a remote working hub. The project also benefitted from town and village renewal scheme funding, but unfortunately there is still a shortfall. This is due to the increase of the cost of materials required for the renovation. We must take such matters into account.

I welcomed the emphasis in the Minister, Deputy Donohoe's speech on digitalisation to streamline procurement, sustainability and standards within the construction sector. He mentioned the Build Digital project at TU Dublin. It is going to be a way to ensure we are delivering value for money and streamlining the process here as well. Construct Innovate is based at the University of Galway and there has been investment of more than €5 million. It is bringing together hundreds of research teams across the country to make the way we do things better by delivering in a quicker way and trying to reduce costs.

Senator Currie mentioned that we are seeing challenges around childcare. This is especially so in rural areas. We may need to look at more community crèches and community childcare. When I knock on doors people are talking about childcare infrastructure being the type most required in our local area. I am aware there is much to be done. Many projects have been delivered. I challenge those who say otherwise. We can see delivery of projects. There is the Galway to Dublin cycleway. We can see the bridge going across the River Shannon.We can see the construction of infrastructure happening in front of our eyes because plans are being put in place to develop our country to be ready for what we need right now, for our growing population and for our towns and villages.