Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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87. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an overview of the progress made to date under National Strategic Outcome 5 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19812/24]

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 or sectoral policy strategies, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case. Each Minister is responsible for deciding on the priority programmes and projects that will be delivered under their remit within the NDP and for setting out the timelines for delivery.

The NDP contains expenditure commitments for a range of strategic investment priorities which will contribute towards the achievement of these NSOs, including NSO 5 which relates to a Strong Economy supported by Enterprise, Innovation and Skills.

NSO 5 aims to maintain and enhance Ireland's status as a competitive, innovative and resilient enterprise base providing high-quality jobs and employment opportunities for people to live and prosper in all regions. Over 16,843 new jobs were created in 2023 in IDA supported client companies. The numbers directly employed in the multinational sector in Ireland were 300,853. The existing base of FDI has shown continued resilience and more than half (53%) of investments went to regional locations.

Employment in client companies of Enterprise Ireland increased to a total of 225,495 in 2023, the highest ever recorded. The total number of jobs created was 15,530. Eight out of nine regions recorded net jobs growth, with the West region (+5%), the North-East region (+5%) and the North-West region (+4%) performing particularly strongly. 68% of new jobs created in 2023 in companies supported by Enterprise Ireland were located outside the Dublin region.

In the Higher Education sector, a number of programmes and projects continue to be advanced to deliver on ambitions for Ireland’s higher education sector as outlined in NSO 5. These projects will expand capacity in higher education institutions, will support a pipeline of talent and skills aligned with national and regional needs, and will also upgrade existing infrastructure to improve the campus environment– taking account of energy efficiency, as well as best practice in teaching and learning. Some examples of projects completed under NSO 5 in the Higher Education sector include the Technological University Dublin, Grangegorman and Phase 2 UL Glucksman Library in Limerick.

Further details of projects and programmes being delivered under NSO 5 can be found in the latest capital investment tracker, which I published yesterday and provides a composite update on the progress of all major investments with an estimated cost of greater than €20 million. Accompanying the tracker, the myProjectIreland interactive map details projects across the country and provides details on specific projects by county, and contains smaller investments such as schools and social housing projects. Search facilities also allow citizens to view projects in their regional area, by city, by county or by eircode.

The Project Ireland 2040 capital investment tracker and myProjectIreland interactive map are all available on gov.ie/2040.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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88. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an overview of the progress made to date under National Strategic Outcome 6 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19813/24]

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 or sectoral policy strategies, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case. Each Minister is responsible for deciding on the priority programmes and projects that will be delivered under their remit within the NDP and for setting out the timelines for delivery.

With that point noted, I would be glad to give the Deputy an overview of the NSO 6 which is the delivery of high quality international connectivity. As a small open economy, wider global challenges and the recovery and return to operations following COVID-19 continues to frame the context in which Ireland does business with the world. High quality international connectivity through our ports and airports is arguably more important now than ever.

The relevant sectoral strategies here are the National Aviation Policy, the National Ports Policy and the Telecommunications chapter of the National Marine Planning Framework which relates to international telecommunications connectivity. These strategies play a critical role in identifying the goals and priorities for the sector and are therefore critical in informing the investment projects set out in the NDP.

In terms of our airports a range of investment are planned and underway. The new North Runway at Dublin Airport has enhanced capacity and will help to meet future demand in the greater Dublin area. The Shannon Airport Group continues to implement its investment plan both for the airport and to redevelop and refurbish the core commercial properties within the Shannon Free Zone. Continued Exchequer support for smaller regional airports is ongoing under the Regional Airports Programme, including Donegal, Kerry and Knock.

In relation to ports, the Port of Cork Company's Ringakiddy Redevelopment Project was completed and became operational in April 2022. The development will enable the Port to increase capacity and throughput, accommodate larger vessels and further develop it as an international gateway for trade.

The development of the Foynes Port by the Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC) consists of a 38-hectare site development for a new logistics park at Foynes Port and the reinstatement of Foynes rail. This investment will further improve our international connectivity

Dublin Port is progressing implementation of its Masterplan 2040 in order to ensure that the Port can provide for future sustainable growth.

Further details of projects and programmes being delivered under NSO 6 can be found in the latest capital investment tracker, which I published yesterday and provides a composite update on the progress of all major investments with an estimated cost of greater than €20 million. Accompanying the tracker, the myProjectIreland interactive map details projects across the country and provides details on specific projects by county, and contains smaller investments such as schools and social housing projects. Search facilities also allow citizens to view projects in their regional area, by city, by county or by eircode.

The Project Ireland 2040 capital investment tracker and myProjectIreland interactive map are all available on gov.ie/2040.