Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The fiscal and policy context section of the Capital Plan "Building on Recovery" sets out the objectives of State investment in infrastructure. It emphasises the Government's commitment, through the Capital Plan, of supporting strong and sustainable economic growth and raising welfare and living standards for all. Promoting environmental sustainability is, of course, integral to achieving and maintaining sustainable economic growth.

The incorporation of environmental sustainability as a key encompassing policy goal in the Capital Plan is demonstrated  throughout the plan document and through progress made in the implementation of key elements of the Plan itself, as well as through other important policy and legislative developments focused on environmental sustainability.

It is important to stress that there is a detailed governance framework already embedded in the allocation of capital resources through which significant investment decisions must be aligned with all government policies, including environmental policy.

For example, when the Plan sets out the Budget Management Framework, it is explicitly stated that all Departments are responsible for ensuring projects meet with the appropriate regulatory requirements including environmental impact assessments.

In addition, when outlining the drivers of long-term public investment requirements the Plan highlights environmental concerns such as the developments in climate change and the need to meet EU emissions targets requiring intervention in the areas of energy efficiency and renewable energy, as well as the need for investments in flood prevention.

Moreover, the area of Environment and Climate is allocated 7% of the available Exchequer capital envelope in the Plan. This amounts to €874 million over the course of the Plan specifically targetted to this sector.

The funding of energy efficiency and renewable energy programmes will play a key role in seeking to meet climate change and energy targets as well as reducing expenditure on imported fossil fuels, underpinning domestic energy sector employment and reducing emissions from our annual energy usage.

As well as Exchequer investment, the commercial State sector as part of the Capital Plan also undertakes investment in renewables, including biomass and forestry, in order to support the delivery of Government's objectives in these areas.

Ultimately, each Department is responsible for ensuring their spending programmes are consistent with whole-of-Government priorities such as environmental sustainability.  Consequently, my Department has requested that all submissions to the current review of the Capital Plan, from both Government Departments and the Public, examine all potential impacts - both positive and negative – of capital proposals in the context of meeting Ireland's existing and forthcoming Climate and Energy goals. My Department also made clear that proposals for additional capital spending should be aligned with the National Mitigation Plan and upcoming National Adaption Framework.

The review of the Capital Plan will, therefore, ensure that resources continue to be allocated and aligned to support sustainable growth, as required under the Government's current policy framework.