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

The Government has committed to €165 billion in capital investment through the NDP, as published in 2021. As a percentage of national income, annual capital investment is now among the largest in the European Union. In 2023, almost €12 billion will fund vital infrastructure in areas such as housing, transport, education, enterprise, sport and climate action. Achieving value for money and reducing cost and schedule overruns is a vital part of delivering the NDP.

My Department is responsible for the public spending code. I was the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the last set of changes were made to that code. I hope the Deputy is aware that the majority of public investment projects are delivered on budget and on time. There is a high level of professionalism across sectors. However, noting the higher risk profile of larger projects, new procedures were required in order to improve project out-turns, to avoid cost overruns and to avoid delays to project delivery.

Responding to this need, my Department put in place the external assurance process, EAP, to provide independent scrutiny for major public capital projects. This involves independent expert reviews at two key stages in the project life cycle under the public spending code. The purpose of the EAP is to improve value for money and to support funding Departments with expert insight relating to project risks.

The major projects advisory group, MPAG, was also established by my Department. The MPAG allows us to better understand the outputs from the external reviews, and help with the decisions around major capital projects. For example, MPAG has now completed reviews of four major project proposals; BusConnects; MetroLink; Clonburris urban regeneration development fund spending; and elective care centres proposed for Cork and Galway.

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