Shay Brennan (Dublin Rathdown, Fianna Fail)
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I raise the critical issue of whether we are getting value for money from our infrastructural investment. As public representatives, we have a responsibility to ensure that every euro of taxpayers' money is spent wisely and delivers tangible, lasting benefits for communities. Over the past decade, we have witnessed unprecedented levels of capital investment in public infrastructure - roads, public transport, schools, hospitals, housing and more. The national development plan, Project Ireland 2040 and various sectoral strategies have set ambitious targets. The sums involved are substantial, reflecting the scale of the challenge and the opportunity before us. However, there is growing concern in this House and among the wider public about the efficiency and effectiveness of this spending. We have all seen high-profile projects beset by cost overruns, delays and significant changes in scope. The national children's hospital, MetroLink and various school building projects have attracted criticism for spiralling costs and protracted timelines. They are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern that raises fundamental questions about project management, procurement processes and accountability in our system. In my constituency of Dublin Rathdown, constituents regularly raise concerns about the pace of delivery and quality of completed projects. Whether transport links, school places or healthcare facilities, people want to know the State is delivering on its promises in a way that represents real value for money. There is a palpable sense of frustration when projects are delayed or costs escalate. It undermines public confidence in the State's ability to delivery essential infrastructure efficiently and effectively.

What specific measures are in place to ensure rigorous oversight of infrastructure projects from initial planning through to completion? How are lessons learned from past overruns and delays? What concrete reforms are being implemented to prevent a repeat of these issues? Is our performance benchmarked against international best practice? If so, how do we compare with our peers in Europe and beyond? Most important, what assurances can the Tánaiste give the public that we are maximising the return on this historic level of investment? What assurance can he provide that future projects will avoid the pitfalls we have seen to date? This is not just about balancing the books. It is about public trust and the credibility of the Government. People need to see that the State can deliver high-quality infrastructure on time and within budget to improve their daily lives and support Ireland's future growth and prosperity. I urge the Tánaiste to provide a detailed and candid assessment of where we stand. What is being done to address these challenges? How can we restore and strengthen confidence in our ability to deliver value for money in public investment?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Brennan for raising timely and important issue. It is worth reflecting on the level of capital investment we are seeing. Since 2019, through the national development plan, we have delivered 170 km of new roads, including the New Ross bypass, the Dunkettle interchange, the Moycullen bypass, the N22 Macroom road and the N5 Westport-Turlough road. We have delivered active travel infrastructure throughout the country of 660 km walking infrastructure, 400 km of cycling infrastructure and 220 km of greenways. There have been almost 53,000 new local authority schemes since 2021, 110,000 premises connected to high-speed broadband as a result of the national broadband plan, 330 premises with an available connection and a new city campus for TU Dublin in Grangegorman. Approximately 800 school building projects have been completed since 2020 with a further 300 under construction along with the first phase of the new national rehabilitation hospital and new ward blocks. I make that point to set a context because the Deputy is right.

We are about to enter a new phase and we have to put ourselves under pressure with regard to the speed, pace and value for money of delivery. We do it from a relatively strong foundation because of the scaling up we have been able to do in delivering capital projects in recent years.

We are about to enter a new phase because the Minister, Deputy Chambers, will shortly carry out the review of the national development plan, which will see an unprecedented level of capital investment. While that is great, our voters and the citizens of this country will want to know whether we got value for money, delivered projects in a timely manner and managed to break down the silos and bureaucracy. That is why, in advance of the national development plan in July, we are putting a big focus on trying to get the structures right.

As the Deputy knows, the new programme for Government has made a number of commitments around infrastructure delivery, crucially looking at how Departments and agencies can work better together. We are working with stakeholders to advise on strategic project selection and expediting the delivery of project assessments. Crucially, the most important thing is the reform taking place in the Department of public expenditure and reform. It now has a newly established infrastructure division led by a deputy secretary general and staffed by a combination of experienced civil servants and sectoral experts redeployed from key State agencies, including the ESB, EirGrid, Uisce Éireann, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and An Bord Pleanála. Government efficiency, value for money and that common-sense approach will be hallmarks of this division within the Department. The Minister and the whole Government are determined in that regard.

In the coming months, we have tasked the infrastructure division to engage with key stakeholders to identify and propose solutions to barriers they see in delivery; to carry out a public consultation on barriers to infrastructure delivery, which is due to commence in the coming days; to carry out a review, as the Deputy rightly called for, of international best practice and international delivery, including looking at what happens in other comparable European countries; and to produce a report on barriers to critical infrastructure delivery, which is also due to come back to Government in July. Getting these building blocks right will serve us well as we ramp up capital in the weeks and months ahead.

Shay Brennan (Dublin Rathdown, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate that response and the steps being taken to improve oversight and delivery. However, I wish to press further on the strategic approach to investment timing. Given the urgent needs in transport, energy, water and public services, and considering Ireland's relatively strong fiscal position, are we missing an opportunity by not front-loading our infrastructural investment, even if this means prudent borrowing? Many experts argue that accelerating key projects now would not only address immediate capacity constraints but also drive economic growth, improve competitiveness and deliver long-term savings by avoiding the costs of delay. With interest rates stabilising and strong demand for public infrastructure, is it time for the Government to be more ambitious and proactive in bringing forward investment, rather than spreading it thinly over a longer period? I would welcome the Tánaiste's thoughts on whether a more front-loaded, investment-led strategy should be considered at this critical juncture.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The honest answer is "Yes". We need to be more ambitious. While these are judgment calls the Minister will no doubt get right in the time ahead, with Government colleagues, we also need to recognise that projects announced today obviously have a lead-in time. This Government wants to deliver 300,000 new homes by 2030. In order to fulfil that, we are going to have to press "go" on crucial water and energy projects and provide extra support and funding for the Land Development Agency. The Deputy is right that if we do not do that early on, we will not see the benefit of it for the people of this country later in this term of Government. It is a balance and a judgment call.

We have to ramp up the delivery of key pieces of infrastructure such as water, energy and transport infrastructure because they are obviously enablers of housing. We have to ramp up housing too. We have to get it right. That is why I am encouraged by the work being done by the Minister, Deputy Chambers, with the establishment of the new infrastructure division. Instead of what I call "pen pals international" where everyone writes to each other, we have seconded into that division key people from Uisce Éireann, the ESB and people with experience of An Bord Pleanála, who will work together with experienced civil servants. Those key bodies of work are either about to commence or are already under way.