Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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93. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his key priorities in relation to the forthcoming capital review; the projects submitted for priority inclusion in the review; the status of negotiations with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2294/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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My Department is in ongoing engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in regard to the National Development Plan. Following the review of the existing Capital Plan, which was carried out during 2017, I was pleased to announce as part of Budget 2018 that an additional €157 million had been allocated for capital expenditure in the Justice Sector in the period 2018 to 2021. This will give rise to a total capital investment of circa €820 million in the Justice area over the next four years in relation to the Garda, Courts, Prisons and other key strategic areas such as Forensic Science Ireland. This funding will enable the completion of projects such as the new Forensic Science Laboratory, the development by the OPW of a new building to replace the current Garda DMR Headquarters in Harcourt Square and significant levels of investment in Garda ICT, Garda transport fleet and continued Garda station refurbishment. It is expected that the National Development Plan will reflect the requirement for continuing capital investment in the Justice Sector in period after 2021 given that an efficient and effective criminal justice system is vital to the realisation of the strategic outcomes of the Ireland 2040 Plan.