Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As part of Project Ireland 2040, the National Development Plan 2021-2030, which was published on 4 October last year, sets out the Government's overarching investment framework and broad direction for investment priorities for this decade.

As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at a departmental level. My Department is also responsible for maintaining the national frameworks within which Departments operate to ensure appropriate accounting and value for money in public expenditure, such as the public spending code. The public spending code sets the value-for-money requirements and guidance for evaluating, planning and managing capital projects. Management and delivery of individual investment projects within the allocations agreed under the NDP and within the national frameworks is a key responsibility of every Department and Minister.

It is important to acknowledge that the majority of public investment projects are delivered on budget and on time and there is a high level of professionalism across the sectors.

Reforms are also ongoing in governance and in their broader capability to help to ensure successful delivery. In my role, I am responsible for setting the guidance processes for the spending of capital funds. The NDP also sets out the range of actions that are being taken to strengthen delivery, to maximise value for money and to ensure, to the extent that is possible, that projects are delivered on time, on budget and with the benefits targeted at the outset. For an extensive list of projects that are currently planned and in progress as part of Project Ireland 2040, the Deputy might consider the publications that were published alongside the NDP, in particular, the updated investment tracker, which provides a composite update on the progress of all projects.

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