{"id":23382,"date":"2021-10-05T12:15:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-05T16:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23382"},"modified":"2021-10-06T14:18:10","modified_gmt":"2021-10-06T18:18:10","slug":"opposition-parties-criticize-new-national-development-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23382","title":{"rendered":"Opposition Parties Criticize New National Development Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
National development plan (PA Media)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ireland\u2019s new National Development Plan has been criticized by opposition parties, who accused the Government of creating more uncertainty around major infrastructure projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plan, launched on Monday, promises \u20ac165 billion for a range of projects over a 10-year-period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However Sinn F\u00e9in TD Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire said it \u201clacked\u201d substance, and was filled with projects that are years late and running \u201cmassively\u201d over cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It comes after Green party leader Eamon Ryan said that not all road projects would go ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There has also been criticism that some of the major projects do not have costings or timings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr \u00d3 Laoghaire accused the Government of speaking out of both sides of their mouth, following Mr Ryan\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile the Government might have sought to distract the public with a dazzling performance in that hallowed stadium, the reality was that the plan lacked any real substance,\u201d Mr \u00d3 Laoghaire said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnother glossy brochure, filled with projects that are years late, projects that are running massively over cost, projects that have been announced and re-announced for decades, whether they\u2019re roads, public transport or housing, a lot of promises never delivered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen people read the NDP, they quickly see that definitely has become maybe, or not at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of these maybes is the Cork to Limerick motorway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Labour leader Alan Kelly told the D\u00e1il: \u201cI\u2019ve never seen a launch of a National Development Plan, which aims to bring certainty to projects, actually create more uncertainty about their possibility than this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said the claim that no costings or timeframes does not mean real investments, was \u201cjust nonsense\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are certain projects, because of their scale and because of the system, that we can\u2019t put an exact date on, but that doesn\u2019t mean we\u2019re not going to pursue that,\u201d Mr Coveney said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will move to deliver projects like the N28, even though they haven\u2019t happened yet, we will move to try to deliver on the N\/M20 as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr \u00d3 Laoghaire asked Mr Coveney whether the Government is committed to building a motorway between Limerick and Cork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cork TD added: \u201cI don\u2019t think it is unrealistic for people to expect that such cities will be connected by a quality motorway road. I hope you agree, minister, that the days of short-term fixes and vague aspirations are gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat we need is to move beyond promises and into specifics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Coveney said there is a \u201cstrong commitment\u201d from Government to build a motorway between Cork and Limerick, but said it has to go through a planning process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added: \u201cI think that Ireland\u2019s second and third city need to be linked with a proper road corridor, but also we need to look at other alternatives in terms of a rail system that\u2019s fit for purpose to take people off roads.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Coveney said the NDP delivers a \u201csustainable development plan\u201d for cities and rural Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a plan that is sustainable, that focuses on the challenges of climate change as a priority, perhaps for the first time,\u201d the Fine Gael minister added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a plan that is consistent with national planning framework.\u201d<\/p>\n

Share this:<\/h3>