Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

With the Department, I am currently evaluating what steps can be taken to deal with the issue of delivery. The increased level of capital investment within our economy in 2016 stood at well below €4 billion. For 2023, it is just above €12 billion, so over seven years it has tripled. I want to look at the steps we can take that will lead to the spending of that capital allocation inside the year for which the funding is made available. This work is not yet completed. I am working on it with my officials and with the Secretary General of the Department. The areas I am looking at include the role of the oversight body for our national development plan, the operation of our public spending code, the role of different organisations, and if they need further support. They are instrumental in turning money into reality on the ground. We are also looking at the impact that inflation, the changed economic environment and the lack of key skilled staff in a number of areas is having on the delivery of projects. I do not propose an extended inquiry into this. I am aiming to draw this work to a close in the next few months, no longer than that. We will then work with my Department to turn our name change into a mandate change.

I look forward to talking to committee members about this work at another time.