Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 30, 40 and 241 together.

Under the NewERA plan, the Government intends that the State companies concerned will make significant investments in key priority areas including energy networks, bioenergy, broadband, water and forestry. These investments will be commercially financed and will be off the Government balance sheet. The investments will also be set in the context of a new national development plan to be drawn up by the Government for the period 2012-2019.

I will consult the Ministers for Finance and Expenditure and Public Reform as the NewERA plan is developed to ensure compliance with the IMF-EU economic adjustment programme for Ireland. The potential for participation by the National Pension Reserve Fund commission in the NewERA infrastructure investment programmes will be pursued with the Minister for Finance and the NPRF commission. The range of existing and planned investment programmes under the NewERA plan will contribute to maintaining jobs and economic recovery in the short term. The NewERA plan will also underpin jobs and growth in the longer term by creating the necessary infrastructure to support enterprise investment.

As the Minister responsible for the NewERA plan I am working with the Ministers for Finance and Environment, Community and Local Government and all relevant ministerial colleagues to ensure collective delivery.

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