Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. The fact that our expenditure per capitais at the level it is in Kildare is simply unacceptable. As many in this House will be aware, I regularly raise the issue of the infrastructural deficits we have in south Kildare, such as that relating to the second bridge for Newbridge. We have a huge issue as regards traffic management and congestion, the root cause of which is the single bridge crossing the River Liffey. We have significant school place pressures at second level that are now starting at primary level and a lack of basic community infrastructure, such as playgrounds and other amenities. We are one of the fastest growing populations with the lowest expenditureper capita. That figure will only get worse as time goes on.

The Minister of State mentioned that Kildare County Council has been provisionally allocated an extra €2.5 million. That still means we are placed 31 out of 31 local authorities by a gap of €2.5 million compared with the county next to us. The Department is doing nothing to even the playing field for Kildare. I hope that the Minister of State will have more and better news for Kildare in his concluding remarks.