Written answers

Tuesday, 3 July 2018

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Capital Expenditure Programme

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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15. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the levels of capital expenditure which will be allocated for infrastructure projects in County Donegal; the timeframe for these allocations; the projects for which funding will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28826/18]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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In my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at a Departmental level. Decisions on how and where those allocations are invested by Departments are a matter, in the first instance, for my ministerial colleagues.

The ten-year National Development Plan (NDP) has been put in place to underpin the implementation of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and to support the development of all counties and regions, both urban and rural areas, including County Donegal.

Total funding of €8.8 billion is allocated to the Strategic Outcome of strengthened rural economies and communities which is a cornerstone of NDP, including in relation to the delivery of the National Broadband Plan and significant investment in regional and local roads.  The NDP also contains, as a priority, increased investment in public transport and ongoing investment in the Local Link Programme. 

In the context of Brexit, the NDP represents a particular step change for the northern part of the island of Ireland, including Donegal and the North-West. For example, the NDP provides for investment to support the ambition for development of the region such as the N2/A5 road serving Meath, Monaghan and Donegal. 

A major capital projects tracker was published in September 2017 on the website of my Department.  This tracker is currently being updated following the launch of the NDP and the updated version will be published shortly which will feature details of the key projects being implemented under the Plan.  

Under the NPF the three Regional Assemblies are now responsible for co-ordinating, promoting and supporting the strategic planning and sustainable development of their regions, consistent with the objectives of the NPF, through the preparation of Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES).  The strategy for the Northern and Western Region provides the opportunity for the priorities for Donegal, for example the priorities included in the existing County Development Plan, to focus on sustainable growth, quality of life and on achievable employment and population growth within Donegal and the Northern and Western Region to be integrated into a regional investment plan which is expected to be a major driver of the implementation of the NPF.

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