Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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126. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the implementation of the National Development Plan 2021-2030, specifically in relation to NSO 10 of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10391/23]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level. The responsibility for the management and delivery of individual investment projects, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan 2021 - 2030 (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case.

The Government has committed €165 billion for capital investment as set out in the NDP published in October 2021. The figures announced in the NDP represent a substantial increase of almost 50% on the previous NDP in 2018 and they target investment levels among the highest in the EU, at 5% of GNI*. 

In 2023, over €12 billion will be made available to Departments to spend on vital infrastructure in areas such as transport, education, and health, as well as housing, water infrastructure and cultural amenities. The NDP includes indicative Exchequer allocations for each Department for a five year period (2021 to 2025) and overall capital expenditure ceilings out to 2030.  This expenditure was considered and agreed in order to support those sectors that would be key in delivering the ten National Strategic Outcomes (NSOs) identified in the National Planning Framework (NPF), including NSO10 (Access to Quality Childcare, Education and Health Services). The NDP has a strong focus on ensuring residential, childcare, health, and education developments, as well as supporting transport infrastructure, support compact growth.

As you are aware, my Department has been renamed to give an additional focus on the delivery of the NDP and to assist Departments in delivering on their much needed priority projects. I am looking at all the policy levers and supporting structures at our disposal that could support the delivery of critical projects. This work will focus on how projects are approved and appraised by Government Departments and Government, the public procurement procedures required to comply with EU regulations under my own remit, and identifying capacity and capability gaps across the public sector and work to bridge these gaps.