Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The National Development Plan (NDP) provides investment of €165 billion over the period 2021 - 2030 and supports a broad range of infrastructure projects and programmes across the country. As Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments. My Ministerial colleagues in Government are responsible for the delivery of the NDP projects that fall under their remit.

Over the past number of years, the delivery of the NDP has been adversely impacted as a result of pandemic related pauses in the construction sector, labour supply issues, the inflationary impacts from both COVID-19 public health measures and the war in Ukraine, with knock-on impacts on the supply chain for construction materials.

As a result, in March 2023, I informed Government of a package of significant actions aimed at enhancing project delivery of the NDP of which one was to commission an independent evaluation of NDP priorities and capacity. The ESRI published its final report on 12th January 2024. The ESRI report is currently informing my officials and I as we engage with Departments and agencies on their NDP allocations to 2026. An additional €2.25 billion of windfall corporate tax receipts is being allocated for capital investment in years 2024 to 2026. This will facilitate the progression of important projects in key sectors such as Education and Health and enable more rapid development of key Programme for Government commitments, particularly the delivery of actions to fulfil our climate action plan commitments. Recognising the capacity constraints in the economy, it is intended that the additional funding will be targeted at projects that are ready for development. The ESRI report is providing valuable input to this process in terms of consideration of key issues such as the capacity to deliver current Government priorities and utilise sectoral capital allocations in a supply constrained economy.

As the Deputy will appreciate, I must consider the competing demands for additional capital expenditure in areas such as health, the education sectors, housing and climate commitments with my Ministerial colleagues. Balancing competing demands and Project Ireland 2040 strategic objectives for projects and programmes is a priority for me and the government.