Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As stated earlier, there is price inflation and there is no question about this. Somebody who built a house ten years ago would not have got the same price they would get today. The focus and the priority of the Department are to ensure that we finish out the 2016 to 2021 capital plan. This is where our focus lies and we will do it in the most economical and efficient way possible. We are looking at different ways of doing this. Take, for example, the adapt system whereby we will try to ensure that we put project management teams on some of these projects to build new schools in order that we can complete them in a more efficient and timely manner. A good number of new capital builds are in train throughout the country. We have tried various ways. There are pros and cons to public private partnerships. It is about finding the most efficient and economical way of doing proceeding.

During my first couple of weeks in the job, the Acting Chairman raised in the Dáil the increase in land prices in Dublin. There are increased pressures when it comes to increases in commercial land. My priority is to follow through the commitments in the capital plan from 2016 to 2021, which is what we will fast track.