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

There is a very close alignment between the new national planning framework and the current review of the capital plan which will be strongly reflected in the Government's capital investment plans arising from the review and decision-making on spatial planning.  Indeed, the Taoiseach, in his recent address to the Institute of European Affairs entitled, Ireland at the Heart of a Changing European Union, reaffirmed that the new national planning framework will be complemented with a long-term, ten year capital plan.

As the Deputy is aware, the review of the capital plan will be undertaken in two separate phases.  The first phase will comprise a focused review of priorities aimed primarily at advising Government, in the context of Estimates for 2018, on how the additional funding of €5 billion committed by Government for capital investment will be allocated for the period to 2021.  This will examine priority areas for investment, consistent with the objectives of the existing capital plan.  

Separately, responding to the direction that the Taoiseach has articulated this area, the review will assess and report on the framework required to underpin a far longer term approach to capital investment and investment in infrastructure.  This is intended to comprise a fundamental review of public capital infrastructure into the future, taking full account of the finalised national planning framework.  It is understood that the first draft of this new approach should be available in April, in time to inform the outcome of the first phase of the review of the capital plan. 

In making their submissions to my Department, Departments have been specifically asked to take into account the emerging position with regard to the draft new national planning framework and to seek to identify any crucial long-term needs that can be anticipated at this stage, in advance of the publication of the framework.  It is envisaged that any suggested new spending contained within submissions will be assessed at programme level against a number of criteria, including specifically alignment with the emerging national planning framework.

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