Senator Phelan asked what the benefits of the NDFA will be. It is expected that the benefits of the agency will include maximising value for money by helping State authorities avail of the best finance packages for capital projects being funded by non-Exchequer sources, applying commercial standards in terms of evaluating financial risk and cost for each project, underpinning the PPP approach to delivery of infrastructure and centralising commercial, including financial and legal, expertise thereby reducing dependence on external consultants with consequent savings.