Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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84. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which his Department has received communication from other Departments and bodies or agencies under their aegis seeking expenditure on such issues as upgrade of motorways, new roadworks, investment in water and other items of infrastructural importance; if he expects to be in a position to respond favourably to such requests in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21929/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Managing the delivery of capital expenditure on issues of infrastructural importance within the allocations agreed in the recently published National Development Plan 2018-2027 is a key responsibility of each Minister and Department. My Department is in regular contact with all other Departments and offices to ensure that capital expenditure is being managed within the overall fiscal parameters and there is regular reporting to Government on expenditure levels.

It should also be noted that the capital allocations made in Budget 2018 and the National Development Plan were informed by the extensive evidence base collated and published on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's website in 2017 as part of the mid-term review of the previous capital plan.

Issues raised by the Deputy, such as the upgrade of motorways, new roadworks, investment in water and other items, were address as part of that process. The mid-term review included a macroeconomic analysis, an assessment of progress on delivery of the 2015 Capital Plan, Departmental submissions, a public consultation process, an infrastructure capacity and demand analysis and an examination of the resourcing available for increased investment. In addition to this, a review of PPPs was undertaken as well as a Public Investment Management Assessment by the International Monetary Fund.

In the National Development Plan, all Departments' capital programmes are now fully funded for a 5-year period covering 2018-2022, which will facilitate Departments in planning their investment programmes over the medium term.

Any further communication with Departments in relation to additional capital expenditure for items of infrastructural importance will take place in the context of rolling-on the 5 year capital ceilings in Budget 2019, to include a new fifth year - i.e. 2023.