Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On 17 July the Government announced its plans for an additional €2.25 billion investment in public infrastructure projects. The most important contribution capital investment can now make is in providing the capacity for the economy to grow which will, in turn, create employment. The stimulus package included €1.4 billion to fund the proposed new public private partnerships, PPP, programme. This investment is directed towards projects that meet key infrastructural needs and are in line with the priorities in the Government's investment framework. These projects will form the first phase of a new programme of PPPs designed to stimulate economic growth and create employment. As the phase 1 projects are progressed and as funding permits, projects that could be delivered as part of further phases will be considered.

Job creation is a critical priority for the Government. This stimulus will help to sustain jobs in the construction sector which has been very badly hit. The investment in the phase 1 package is expected to generate significant numbers of jobs. Previous analysis of each sector indicates that the investment will generate around 13,000 direct jobs and many more indirect jobs. It will also create much needed social and economic infrastructure and aid economic recovery. Projects have also been chosen on the basis that they are spread across the country and will provide employment in many local areas. When deciding which projects to invest in, the labour intensity of all projects was carefully considered.

My Department chairs a steering committee which is closely engaged with the relevant line Departments and their agencies to ensure all of the projects identified are advanced. Work is being finalised on a timetable of projects to determine when projects can be rolled out. I expect that a number of tenders will issue next year. An important feature of the PPP programme roll-out is that jobs will be created and sustained at all stages from project preparation, design and construction. Activity has commenced and I understand a number of tender competitions are under way, including those for legal advisory services and technical advisory services for the Grangegorman project, the schools programme and the justice programme.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The HSE will also be issuing tender notification for technical advisors for the primary care centres shortly. This should help to provide certainty and sustain employment in these sectors. There will be considerably more activity next year as project preparation continues.

The steering committee is also looking at ways to maximise job creation as part of each tender competition in line with procurement regulations. With the NDFA, the committee is also examining ways to encourage SME participation by facilitating access to the programme. The NDFA is working with Enterprise Ireland to organise awareness raising events across the country.

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