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

For this reason, among others, there is an increased allocation to the new Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. In terms of capital funding in particular, the Department will see an increase of almost €50 million, or 41%. This will contribute towards our carbon reduction, energy efficiency and renewable energy targets through measures such as the renewable heat incentive, better energy grant schemes and the electric vehicles subsidy with a total of €90 million for these schemes. This will reduce the environmental impact of heating our homes, support energy efficiency in the business and public sectors, assist those in energy poverty and enhance the affordability and attractiveness of electric vehicles. We are also increasing funding to the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS, in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine by €69 million to €211 million, with an expected total number of participants standing at 50,000 next year.

Capital review

An important way to reduce our carbon emissions is through greater use of public transport and a reduced dependence on private transport. This was a key priority in the capital plan and will continue to be when the plan comes to be reviewed. Deputies are aware that since the publication of this plan, better conditions have allowed us to increase the total spend by over €5 billion, bringing the total State-backed investment, which includes State companies, to over €47 billion.

Our priorities over the next number of years include those major transport projects such as Luas cross city, the new metro north and the DART expansion programme. They also include major health projects such as the new national children's hospital, a new national maternity hospital, a new national forensic mental health hospital and a number of oncology units.

We also have a major nationwide schools building programme in place to meet the demands of our growing population. Major flood relief schemes for Cork and Enniscorthy are planned to commence construction as part of a €44 million package for flood relief schemes generally.

It is important to realise, however, that this plan must be adaptable to meet our changing needs. In this context, I am bringing forward the capital review and work on this review will commence now. I will be in a position to bring a revised and more ambitious programme of capital investment to the House next year.

Reform of public services and affordable public pay

Increases in investment and the sustainable management of public service pay are two sides of the same coin. Today's budget includes the provision of €290 million for pay increases agreed under the Lansdowne Road agreement. This is correctly being provided to civil and public servants following the huge sacrifices they made at the start of, and during, the crisis. This allowed us to get the public pay bill under control and reform our public services so they are better for the users of those services and, I hope, better places within which to work.

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