Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 to 15, inclusive, together.

The national reform programme is an important element of the European semester, the annual cycle of economic and fiscal policy co-ordination among EU member states. As part of the semester, Ireland, along with all other member states, prepares and submits a national reform programme to the European Commission each April. This provides an overview of economic reforms and policy actions under way in Ireland, including in response to country-specific recommendations given as part of the preceding year's semester.

Preparation of the national reform programme is co-ordinated by the economic division of my Department with input from relevant Departments and agencies.

Work on this year's programme, which includes engagement with stakeholders, is now under way.  Last year, in line with guidance from the European Commission, Ireland's national reform programme was integrated into the 2021 national recovery and resilience plan, NRRP.  This was required to access funding under the European Union's recovery and resilience facility from which Ireland was allocated €950 million in grants.  The NRRP was approved in September 2021 and implementation is now under way.

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