These are questions, not a debate. Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta.

Sentiment score: 0.00

Go raibh maith agat, a Aire. Tá d'am caite.

Sentiment score: 0.00

Can we just have one person talking at a time, one person standing at a time and keep to our time? That would be fantastic. Tá dhá cheist le tógail le chéile in ainm an Teachta Emer Currie.

Sentiment score: 0.19

153. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to outline the progress that has been made on the National Development Plan review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27885/25]

Sentiment score: 0.15

We are all waiting to see how the national development plan will proceed. Obviously, all of our areas require a lot of investment in infrastructure. The infrastructural deficit we have, especially across the west, is something I have raised with the Minister quite a number of times. We also need to look at procurement and how it can be used to benefit areas, particularly those more rural and isolated areas where different types of jobs are not as easy to come be. If we are spending a certain amount above a certain threshold, we need to look at introducing social clauses into the contracts as well to ensure that a certain number of apprentices on board and a certain number of people who live locally hired for these projects. We could thereby ensure that the money benefits local economies and that people can stay within their local areas.

Sentiment score: 0.17

Will the Minister provide an update on how his Department is coming at this review? Is it that the Department was ready for such a review or did pressure come about as a result of the announcement that there would be a review? Does he think that all the information required will be available when it is needed? It is also welcome that the Minister is saying there will be public consultation. That is always very welcome. As he will know, when we talk about infrastructure in the west, the problem is that we have not had investment in the basic infrastructure and that this can have an impact on everything. We consistently still have health centres in Conamara that do not have access to phone lines. We need to get that sorted because we need investment in this basic infrastructure.

Sentiment score: 0.08