Mr. Derek Tierney:

We are engaging with the Department of public expenditure and the infrastructure task force that was established, to give the benefit of our experience. We are looking at the infrastructure threshold. We see the current threshold of €200 million. A typical ward block costs €150 million, so it is already into the infrastructure guidelines. The health sector is obliged to follow the construction works management framework, while other sectors are not, so there is an inconsistency of application around rule sets. We have experience with the public works contract form. We share those with the Department as well. We are looking for consistency and flexibility and maybe some enhancements to that. As the Minister said, we have engaged with the Department of housing on planning exemptions. We are building ward blocks that are repeatable, consistent and standardised. There may be some efficiencies to be gleaned within the planning system to speed up how we deliver as well.