Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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42. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on whether the investment in infrastructure will allow Ireland to be Brexit-ready. [25674/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Submissions from Departments on the utilisation of the additional capital funding available under the Capital Review have been received and are being scrutinised by my Department.

Departments were asked to factor into their submissions relevant developments since the publication of the Capital Plan in 2015, including the new Programme for a Partnership Government; the provisional results of Census 2016; the draft new National Planning Framework; and of course, Brexit. 

In that context it is a matter for each Department, in the first instance, to assess its sectoral capital plans in the light of critical issues such as Brexit, taking into account the analysis of Brexit implications which is currently being carried out, and to propose any consequent reprioritisation of resources as a result.   

A public consultation process has also been undertaken, to ascertain the views of the public and key stakeholders on what our national infrastructure priorities should be, in light of issues including Brexit, and to also seek views on infrastructure investment priorities even beyond the period of the current Capital Plan, which will help formulate a longer term Capital Plan for the next 10 years.  

My Department's assessment of the submissions from Departments will be based on, for example, updated analysis of infrastructure capacity and demand as well as the new National Planning Framework due to be published later this year, in order to ensure that the additional capital resources are targeted on priority public capital infrastructure required to support Ireland's medium-term growth potential.

It is expected that the capital review process will be completed in Quarter 3 of 2017, to enable the Government to make final decisions in the context of the Budget on how the remaining additional capital funding should be allocated.

I am satisfied that the approach I have set out to the review of the Capital Plan will help ensure that any particular infrastructure challenges posed by Brexit are fully encompassed in our capital planning.