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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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So to sum it up: Yay, we’re shite at our jobs. But not as shite as last year… #progress
If they kept their hands out of peoples luggage I’d be happier, twice had locks broken and items stolen including cash the last time when I forgot to move it to carry on bag. Zero come back also as they declare to be non-liable for any items which go missing while in their custody.
Why on earth would you put cash or valuables in checked luggage? You’re only asking for trouble! It is also a known fact that the TSA in United States will cut your bag open if its locked
Why are these figures counted as “mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers” rather than, let’s say, “mishandled bags per 1,000 pieces of luggage“?
Great spot there Dennis. Data manipulation at it’s best.
Thank god for that. Had my bags mishandled in Amsterdam a few years back.
How about they tackle the mishandling of claims for mishandled bagged procedure… It’s a nightmare still waiting on a cheque for the tour of the globe my bag took for Thanksgiving 2012…
Went to Paris to propose to my now wife, ring went to Barcelona with my bag. Couldn’t say anything. Longest 3 days of my life. Thankfully it all worked out. Staff at Charles de Gaulle were absolutely no help whatsoever though
Rookie error. Never check a ring in! What if tour bag had been lost for good or someone robbed it?
Was a very early flight and forgot to put it in the carry on. If it was robbed I could never tell her and just order another ring. That’s really where my head was during the episode.
Well it all worked out in the end. Nice name btw!
Back at ya brother!
There’s an episode of “Learn French By Podcast” about the staff at CdG being no help whatsoever. Seems to be a common theme emerging here.
While travelling to Brazil with TAP (Air Portugal) at the start of this year with my partner we had to make 2 connections in Europe, one in Frankfurt and the other in Lisbon, in Frankfurt our flight to Lisbon was delayed by over an hour due to technical issues. When we arrived to Lisbon we had to run to make our flight to Sao Paulo, our luggage never made it on the flight, in Sao Paulo we were treated very cold by TAP staff and told we were entitled to R$100 compensation (about €35) to buy clothes etc; which we had to argue for when we went to the relevant person. When our luggage arrived at my partner’s home in Brasilia a day later than expected we realised that 7 bottles of expensive perfumes had been stolen from my partner’s bag, not to mention a Barbie doll and a pair of new jeans. After many stressful attempts to contact TAP about receiving compensation they finally agreed to giving my partner a free return ticket to any city, they refuse to refund him the vale of the perfumes as we do not have proof of purchase, and they actually expect us to use their rude, unhelpful airline again.
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