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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 21 together.

The housing and infrastructure unit supports me and the Government in building a successful society and economy through sustainable economic development with a particular focus on housing and infrastructure policy. This includes supporting the work of the Cabinet committee on housing which oversees the delivery of Housing for All. The unit monitors implementation of Housing for All and prepares quarterly progress reports. The most recent of these, for quarter 1 of 2022, was published in April and shows strong progress towards fundamental reform of the housing system, and the implementation of measures to increase the supply of quality and affordable housing.

While we are seeing good progress and we are confident of good progress on housing delivery in 2022, we recognise that there are many challenges to be overcome, including ongoing inflationary pressures and supply chain issues. Given the need for accommodation arising from our humanitarian response to the situation in Ukraine, delivering on the plan is more important than ever. The Cabinet committee will maintain focus on this delivery.

As part of the broader economic division, the unit also maintains an overview of progress in key policy areas in line with Government priorities and provides me with briefing and speech material on relevant policy issues.

The unit also develops the national risk assessment, which plays an important role in promoting an open and inclusive discussion on the strategic risks facing the country. The national risk assessment for 2021-2022 was published in December. Many of the risks in the report have been identified in previous assessments. However, there are a number of new risks, including inflation, and a number of previously identified risks, including housing and cybersecurity, which have evolved considerably. This is at the same time as major risks, in particular climate change, have taken on an even great importance.

The report also identifies major geopolitical risks, including the rise of a multipolar world, Ireland's post-Brexit relationship with the United Kingdom and the risk of armed conflict as we are now seeing to horrendous effect with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The national risk assessment is just one element of the overall system of preparedness and resilience planning for Ireland and is not intended to replicate or displace the detailed risk management and preparedness which takes place across Departments and agencies.

There is no dedicated Cabinet committee dealing with transport; rather transport-related matters are discussed in a number of Cabinet committees, as appropriate. This occurs most usually at the Cabinet committee on economic recovery and investment, and at the Cabinet committee on the environment and climate change. As with all policy areas, transport issues are also regularly discussed at full Cabinet meetings where all formal decisions are made.

See this speech in context