I move:
That Seanad Éireann welcomes the progress being made in the implementation of the NDP infrastructure investment programmes, particularly in the roads, public transport and water services sectors.
It is an appropriate time to debate this motion given that the Tánaiste recently said we have a First World economy and a Third World infrastructure. It would be very difficult for anyone to disagree with that statement. Much of our infrastructure is under severe strain because of economic development in recent years, which probably indicates a dearth of investment over many decades.
It would be fair to the say that the national development plan introduced by the Government is probably the most significant developmental proposal in the lifetime of the State. It involves an investment of more than £40 billion in 1999, excluding a further £6 billion which it is hoped to attract from the private sector. This will be expended over a period of seven years from 2000 to 2006. It is the largest investment plan ever drawn up by the State and unlike previous plans most of the public funding, about 90%, will be provided from domestic sources, mainly the Exchequer. Nevertheless, the contribution from the European Union will still be significant. There will be £3 billion from the Structural and Cohesion Funds and £1.7 billion under the CAP rural development plan. The national development plan has four basic strategic objectives: continuing sustainable national economic and employment growth, consolidating and improving Ireland's international competitiveness, fostering balanced regional development and promoting social inclusion.
It is interesting to note that more than half of the national development plan expenditure will be devoted to economic and social infrastructure. The focus will be on transport infrastructure, including road, rail and bus, environmental services, including water, sewerage and waste management, which we talked about earlier, together with housing and health infrastructure. From a national and regional perspective, this expenditure is the most important under the national development plan.
The deficiencies in our infrastructure, which have been exposed by the rapid economic development of recent years, are now threatening to become an impediment to further economic and social progress. This importance is reflected in the fact that the annual average provision for infrastructure over the planned period represents an increase of 55% over the 1999 baseline figure. Almost 40% of the planned expenditure on infrastructure is earmarked for roads and public transport, reflecting investment needs in these areas. As far as national roads are concerned, the focus is on improving the main corridors. As regards public transport, there is special emphasis in the plan on the Dublin region because of the major transport bottlenecks in the capital, which are an obstacle to national economic progress. This is not to the exclusion of the need for improved provincial bus networks and the enhancement of public transport services in other centres.
In the area of environmental services, substantial investment in water, sewerage and waste management facilities is planned to comply with EU regulatory requirements and to meet the needs of a buoyant economy and rising population.
For the first time, there is provision for social infrastructure, and housing is the biggest individual expenditure item. A key housing priority is to increase social housing output in accordance with the increased demands in the community.
On health infrastructure, the priorities are substantial improvements in the physical infrastructure and the equipping of acute hospitals, facilities for the intellectually and physically disabled, facilities and services for older persons, mental health services and services for children requiring care and protection. It will also provide for much needed investment in the area of information technology and health research.
There are significant investments across a wide range of services. Anybody who travels to the UK or Europe will see that we have much catching up to do to provide an infrastructure commensurate with the needs of the economy today. Bearing in mind economic growth, per capita income increases and other economic indicators which put us among world leaders, infrastructure needs to catch up. The challenges are ones that should have been addressed much earlier. The cost to the economy as a whole and the transport sector in particular of having a deficient road network is very significant. As I stated here before, almost all the expenditure, with the exception of labour, in the transport sector is imported. From a balance of payments point of view it is highly desirable, if not essential, that we make the necessary investment. We also need to accelerate the developments taking place. To fully implement the plan and realise the benefits of it requires an emphasis on smoothing the planning regulations and the consultation process.
In my area there will be a new motorway from Waterford to Dublin. We are led to believe that this will not dilute the emphasis on the eastern corridor where there is substantial development in housing, with people commuting to the capital on a daily basis. It is important that the public transport structure and the road network facili tate the smooth movement of people and goods. There is a significant payback from improvements in our road sector and introducing more motorways with savings in time, fuel costs, and wear and tear on vehicles. It is almost unbelievable that in 2001, having seen rapid economic growth, we have so little motorway here.
It is a reflection of poor vision that developments have taken place which, within three or four years, will be redundant. I am talking here about the Moone bypass and there are other examples where road improvements are taking place but the increase in traffic and the growth in population are rapidly overtaking those developments. It shows the short-term nature of some of the development. I hope that the Government and the various agencies responsible will ensure that developments will give us value for money and will be planned so that they will be sustainable into the future. Any plan for road infrastructure should be looking to the year 2100 and all development in the interim should be phased in to ensure that at that stage we have a fully developed road network that will be required then.
There has been significant investment to date on the plan, particularly in public transport. There are serious deficiencies in our public transport. As an aside, when I consider industrial relations in the public service, particularly in State companies like Aer Lingus and CIE, I despair as to the ability of these companies to deliver on the required transportation system.
However, progress has been made in recent years. Bus Átha Cliath purchased 150 buses in 1999 and 225 in 2000, and 56 new buses are planned for this year. That is a significant increase. Amazingly, no new carriages were bought for the DART since its inception in 1984 until recently when 12 new carriages were purchased. Of all the initiatives taken in the public transport sector, the DART is one area that shows good planning and pays dividends. It works extremely well and the Minister is very anxious to ensure that it is extended to complement the Luas and the underground system.
If we were planning Dublin transport from a blank sheet, we would not dream of doing so without a fully integrated underground rail system. That is not as easy as if we were starting from scratch but it is something which should be pursued with great vigour and enthusiasm. The new investment in the DART service will increase its capacity by almost 50% by the end of 2002, which is significant. Total expenditure on suburban rail development has amounted to 28 billion.
As regards bus services outside Dublin, 86 new buses were bought in 2000 and 36 in 2001. Mainline rail has seen 200 miles of new rail laid and total expenditure in that area amounted to £235 million in 2000. While there have been improvements in the rail lines between Tralee, Sligo, Cork and Dublin, there is a need – I am sure the Mini ster of State, Deputy Jacob, will concur fully – to improve the Dublin to Wexford line. It is an important suburban commuter link to the capital city and there are parts of it where trains must slow to 30 to 40 miles an hour because of the condition of the rails. There is a need for improvement in this area. There are other areas, which I am sure will be mentioned by other speakers, such as waste management and water and sewerage schemes where we must meet EU requirements and the demands of growing urban population centres.
Overall, the national development plan is well conceived. It is essential that it is well implemented so that its fruits will be evident within as short a space of time as possible and it is important that any bureaucracy impeding it is addressed quickly to ensure its quick and smooth implementation.