Dáil debates
Thursday, 8 February 2024
Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions
National Development Plan
11:20 am
Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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92. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the recent ESRI report submitted to his Department, The National Development Plan in 2023: Priorities and Capacity, the steps his Department will take to address the limitation of data to evaluate investment in infrastructure projects for balanced regional development as indicated in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5751/24]
Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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I ask the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform for his views on the recent ESRI report submitted to his Department entitled The National Development Plan in 2023: Priorities and Capacity. Will the Minister outline the steps his Department is taking to address the limitation of data to evaluate investment in infrastructure projects, in particular with a view to achieving balanced regional development on this island as indicated in the report?
Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I will give a short answer to the Deputy's question, but will hopefully cover all of the key points to facilitate an exchange of views on it. I have covered this matter in questions from other Deputies this morning, I will give a broad answer as to the steps we are taking with regard to the availability of data and information. I highlight three, which I believe can make a difference. The first is the publication of the regional reports. That has been underway for each year since 2018. Second, we have a digital map tracker, which is available to allow communities see the status of different projects. We finally publish a regular NDP tracker that again allows stakeholders to see the status of current and future projects. Those are the three different steps we take. I am well aware of the need to move forward the capital projects in a way that is consistent with the national planning framework that in turn aims to deliver regional balance.
Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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I thank the Minister for his answer. I suppose he will agree with me that quality of data is critically important. When we are spending millions and billions of public money, whatever way we spend it, that will have an impact on this country for decades, if not centuries, to come. Acknowledging those impacts, and that we are shaping the nation when we make these decisions, it is imperative that the data we have is of high quality and reliable. Even small inconsistencies or inaccuracies can lead to us taking the wrong decision, and we will be left with those decisions for a long time. At the risk of upsetting the economists, it is not an exact science, and is less exact if it does not have quality data underpinning it. With respect to the economists, it is difficult for them to do their job and to help us do our jobs unless the quality of data is good. I am reminded of projects that were considered white elephants. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, will know about Ardnacrusha in our own neck of the woods. It was considered a white elephant 100 years ago, but it was not. The politicians back then were brave and took a risk with it in spite of the data.
Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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If any economist thinks their science is an exact science they are probably worth upsetting. The amount of uncertainty and change that has happened in the economy in the past number of years means predictions and forecasts about what will happen have to be humble and acknowledge the degree of uncertainty and volatility in the global economy and the effect it can have in Ireland. We do our best, through the publication of the regional reports mentioned earlier, to provide relevant information on the status of individual projects. I know it is always the case, as the Deputy has said, that public representatives from each part of the country will make the case for more investment within their own community and counties. However, overall the national development plan and national planning framework have made great efforts to achieve regional balance. If we were to be successful in delivering the majority of projects, which I believe we will be, we will have gone a long way to deliver the regional balance we have acknowledged to be important for so long.
Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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I agree with the thrust of the national planning framework and the national development plan and what we are trying to do. The ESRI report hints that we are not really on track and are not achieving the balance that is so critically important. If we want a greater and bigger economy, and a bigger country in terms of the wealth that will underpin the society we are trying to serve, balanced regional development is critical. At the risk of being parochial, my vision is not necessarily for a bigger Limerick or mid west or a counterbalance to Dublin. It is for a better Ireland that can be served by creating that counterbalance. I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, agrees with me. We are ideally located to be that counterbalance to Dublin. Public investment needs to align with that vision and we need data to underpin the decisions to achieve that vision.
Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State would absolutely agree. His ambition for the mid west is unbounded, as I am sure is the Deputy's.
Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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More and more.
Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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More and more. I agree with Deputy Leddin's point. I speak as a representative from the heart of Dublin. I am clear that development of the region the Deputy has just made the case for is absolutely consistent with, and a really important part of, our national economic development. It is not about looking to pit or divide different parts of our country against each other. It is about recognising that the city of Dublin is itself already facing into supply constraints. It is facing the challenge of many different pieces of land in different parts of the city. It is already facing competing demands. That is why Limerick has been so successful from an FDI perspective. That is why we have to find further ways in which we can accelerate the overall balanced development of our country.
I quickly highlight for the Deputy the huge importance of the national broadband plan and the impact that will make.