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

The Deputy is aware, as acknowledged, I published the review of the capital plan on 14 September and a copy of the report was made available to each Deputy on that day.

The review of the plan draws on an evidence base that included submissions by Departments and offices, an extensive public consultation and an infrastructure capacity and demand analysis completed by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service, IGEES, in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

I also published for the first time a capital tracker, which lists a range of projects and programmes committed to by Departments over the period of the capital plan. Copies of the documentation and the capital tracker can be found on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

The review of the plan highlights some key themes, which will closely inform and be incorporated into the analysis, which will then lead to the finalisation of the new ten-year national investment plan. These themes include confirmation of the central role of public capital in underpinning the long-term growth of our economy and society; the need to align public capital investment priorities to a changing society and changing demographics; the critical importance of public capital infrastructure to deliver balanced development across our country; the need to respond to Brexit; the central importance of making sure that money is spent well; and that a solid business case is in place for important public spending.

Based on this analysis, the review of the plan has identified a number of sectors such as priorities for investment, including transport, education and housing. The findings of this review will assist Government in selecting priorities for the allocation of €4.1 billion up to the period to 2021. Consequently, between 2014 and 2021, public capital expenditure in Ireland will have more than doubled and as set out by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, this will see public investment in Ireland moving to among the highest in the EU. The Government will make final decisions on the allocation of this funding in the context of the 2018 Estimates.

See this speech in context