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Updated at 11:07pm
TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has denied that infrastructure spending plans announced today are about the next election.
Speaking at Heuston Station as the government committed to €27 billion in investment over the next six years, Kenny said that a judgement will be made by voters.
“There are those who say it’s politics orientated, believe me it’s in the interests of Ireland. The people will make their judgement in any event,” he said.
“The election is a matter for the people. As we’ve said, our focus is about preparation for the budget. Our focus is on delivering a realistic affordable plan that impacts on all regions of the country, people will make their own choice in due course.”
Much of what’s contained in the plan includes provisions for projects that have already been announced such as the National Children’s Hospital and expasion of the Dublin Dart line.
Kenny said the plan is “prudent and consistent” in its approach to balancing the books but added that, “the time has come to invest to secure the recovery”.
The Infrastructure and Capital Investment plan outlines €42 billion of spending, €27 billion of which will come from the public purse from 2016-2021.
Some of what’s been announced includes:
Transport
Spending on transport projects makes up over a third of what’s being invested at €10 billion.
A suggestion to revive the previously mothballed Dublin Metro North scheme was made last year and the government has now confirmed that it will be built, beginning in 2021.
The plan envisages that it will be open by 2026/2027.
The government says that it will cost €2.4 billion and will run from St. Stephen’s Green to Swords via Dublin Airport. It will be 16.5 km in length, just over half of which will be underground.
Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe has also pledged a €6 billion investment in the country’s road network.
The minister says that €4.4 billion of this will be invested to improve existing roads.
Some of these improvements will include the upgrade roads of roads such as:
New road projects include the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy motorway and a by-pass of New Ross.
Health
The capital plan makes provision for €3 billion in healthcare infrastructure spending up until 2021.
This includes investment for the National Children’s Hospital at the site of the current St. James Hospital could be completed in five years.
Also included is the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital to St.Vincent’s Hospital and a new mental health facility in Portrane.
The government is also promising specialist intensive care units at Galway, Cork and Portrane.
Social housing
The government’s plan says that “everyone should have access to good quality housing” and pledges an investment of €3 billion to increase the supply of social housing by 35,000 homes by 2020.
First published at 3:05pm
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The Healy Rae’s are a national embarrassment.
@carol mullen: Why ? Because they get the job done ? I’m not from the constituency they’re from so they probably won’t do much for me,but why do the people of Kerry keep voting for them
@carol mullen: Only to those whose heads are too posh to push. They respond to their constituents concerns and deliver unlike the Social Democrats and Labour party who run to the hills In case they be held accountable in fairness to the Greens at least they took their place they’ve taken their beating which was unfair given they stepped up and influenced government policy.
@Paul Harte: They claim they get everything done but it is not them at all.
@Gary Kearney: So who gets it done. I understand that they don’t physically go out and do it themselves, but who is getting it done so. If more TDs worked for the constituents like these 2 and just interested in being in photos and actually did what the voters need and want, we’d be a lot better off. Yes, they are well paid for it, but are they getting anything more than the useless TDs who do nothing other than look after themselves.
If there is 1euro in agreement for the people of Kerry, there is another one in it for Healy-Rae’s
Milking the country they are.
Make kilgarvan great again
They play the oldest game in the book. All politics is local and blame it on anybody else, particularly Dublin. Works like a dream.
They complain about schemes and policies the government run and yet make millions out of them.
We can’t laugh at trump when we have e the Healy raes in politics here
Could they be any worse than Mehole and Simson
@Paul Harte: Thankfully our voters rejected being ruled by the Dark rooms of Belfast and those living in a foreign country.
Healy Raes and Mattie Mcgraw are among the few politicians that actually care about doing the job they elected for instead of rattling on about other countries business.
@gregory pym: And Michael Collins isn’t to bad either and the guy in Limerick who’s in with Michael, his name escapes me, is he Donaghue or something like that 0
so the healy raes and mucheal lowery will decide who our next government will be, we’ll its always great to have friends in low places Michael and Simon
These two should not be allowed near politics. They are a national disgrace
In fairness, he cannot say anything else now can he!
have your say