Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As part of the NDP review, we will be looking closely at the alignment of the new NDP that we will prepare with Project Ireland 2040 to make sure it is consistent with the overarching framework for the development of our country and that it is consistent with the programme of Government priorities, which are in health, housing and climate action. I have had a lot of engagement with our procurement function within the Department at this stage. I have received briefings on the national children's hospital, and lessons need to be learned there about project management. I will be asking as part of the NDP review that, in deciding on new allocations, we articulate what those lessons are and make sure they are built into our policies going forward. We do not want a situation where projects are gobbling up a huge amount of resources that can get then not be made available to other Departments. It is a costly lesson but one that we are determined to learn.