Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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15. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he and his Department have identified the most important elements of infrastructural deficiency most likely to affect economic performance in the future; the extent of his ongoing proposals to address such deficiency, with a view to ensuring the maximisation of employment opportunities throughout the economy in the future, and achievable through improved infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5745/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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My Department commenced a review of the public capital programme in April of last year in parallel with the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure. The purpose of the review is to assess all areas of public capital investment and to refresh the existing investment strategy and multi-annual envelopes.  This is to help ensure that they are in line with emerging Government priorities and that our limited resources are focused on the areas that can best support continued, sustainable and equitable growth.

As part of the Estimates process, and informed by the capital review, Government has made decisions on the capital allocations for the next three years. These were set out in Budget 2015. The report of the capital review is currently being finalised and I intend to publish it in the coming weeks. The report will include the three year ceilings announced on Budget Day along with new ceilings for the period 2018 to 2020.

While investment for economic growth is vital at a time when our economy is in recovery, we must ensure that this growth is equitable and sustainable. For this reason, the capital allocations published in the Budget include increased investment for social housing reflecting the Government's prioritisation of investment in this area. They also provide continued investment for Education to meet demographic demands in our schools and for Health to allow the HSE to progress a number of large scale and priority projects. The new investment plan will also ensure the sustainability of our strategic resources through measures to tackle climate change and improve energy efficiency.

The exchequer will of course continue to invest in our roads and public transport and support jobs and the business sector through our enterprise support agencies.