Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

The national development plan, NDP, is a high level strategic framework and financial investment plan. It sets out indicative financial allocations for the investment priorities which will consolidate and enhance our economic competitiveness and provide a better quality of life for everyone in this country.

The plan brings together different sectoral investment policies into one overall investment framework, thereby promoting optimal co-ordination and alignment between sectoral policies. The plan emphasises the importance Government attaches to several horizontal themes such as promoting all-island co-operation, enhancing environmental sustainability, promoting more balanced regional development and supporting the development of the rural economy.

The plan provides a financial framework within which Departments and agencies can plan and deliver the implementation of public investment. Together with the robust value for money regime put in place by the Government, this will support the delivery of NDP-financed projects within budget and on time. It is worth noting that the majority of major roads projects in recent years are coming in on time and within budget.

The Government remains committed to the progressive delivery of the investment priorities to be financed under the NDP up to the end of 2013. This commitment is evidenced by the allocations made available from the Exchequer both in 2007 and in 2008 and the outputs clearly visible throughout the country, whether in terms of new roads, new public transport infrastructure, new schools, new water services and the very considerable delivery of public investment financed by the Exchequer.

The preparation of a progress report on NDP investment in 2007 is well advanced and will be laid before the Oireachtas in due course, where it will be subject to debate. The report will set out not only the financial outturns for each of the NDP's 88 investment sub-programmes but the actual outputs financed under the NDP and how they have contributed to supporting the NDP's horizontal objectives.

This investment will help to position the Irish economy to take advantage of a future upswing in the global economy and will help improve the quality of life in this country.

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