Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

398. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a review is planned on the role of PPP's and the rules surrounding them; when such a review will take place and be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28420/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be aware that a mid-term review of the Capital Plan is currently underway, the findings of which will ultimately help Government to put in place a new long term Capital Plan which is consistent with the new National Planning Framework to be published later this year.

In that context, Government needs to formulate a strategic view on the extent to which PPPs should be used to assist in delivering additional infrastructure, to complement that provided directly with Exchequer funding.

With that in mind, I asked my Department to review our experience of using PPPs and to advise on the scope for further use of this procurement option in the context of the Government's capital investment plans.

A senior level group has been established to assist my Department in this regard, comprising relevant officials from the Departments with experience of procuring projects by PPP, together with the Department of Finance, the National Development Finance Agency and Transport Infrastructure Ireland. This group is reviewing past experience with PPPs and its report, once complete, will provide an evidence based analysis of the potential for further use of PPPs, and concessions, as a procurement option for the delivery of additional capital infrastructure as part of the new long term capital plan. Assessing the affordability, sustainability and value-for-money of PPP procurement will be key elements of the Group's work, while the Group will also have the opportunity to make recommendations in relation to other aspects of PPP policy and guidance, if appropriate.

The report of the Inter-departmental group will help inform a final decision on how to proceed in relation to off-balance sheet PPPs in the context of the new long-term capital plan to be published later this year.