Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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51. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has reviewed the capacity across the public sector to deliver complex infrastructural projects; if new arrangements could be put in place to strengthen that capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29476/24]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Well-targeted investment has the ability to be transformational for society and it is essential that the State gets value for money for the significantly increased capital budget under the National Development Plan. In order to do so, all Government Departments and agencies tasked with delivering these vital projects must have the capacity, capability and appropriate governance structures in place to deliver efficiently and effectively. The EY Report “Supporting Excellence: Capital Project and Programme Review Delivery" commissioned by my Department and published in 2021 identifies a range of strengths and weaknesses in the public capital delivery system. It highlights that there are many examples of best practice throughout the public service but there are also some areas where enhancements are required.

Since then my Department has worked with key sectors and central bodies in published a Supporting Excellence Action Plan with 34 actions to boost public sector capability. These actions have been either completed or substantially delivered since publication of the Action Plan in Autumn 2021. Some of the key deliverables were: establishing the Major Projects Advisory Group and External Assurance Process, the completion by Departments of gap analysis and delivery plans to bridge capability gaps in their sectors, additional funding to boost technical skillsets and upskilling for public servants, and further delivery of Capital Works Management Framework review actions.

The renaming and reconstitution of my Department in 2023, to specifically include "NDP Delivery", demonstrates a greater emphasis and mandate for the delivery of the NDP. In light of this new role, a review of the support structures and levers available across Government to maximise delivery of projects was undertaken. As a result, a series of actions and reforms were identified as priorities to improve delivery of NDP projects. One of those actions included a review of the capacity in major departments and agencies to deliver on NDP priorities with particular focus on significant capital projects to ensure appropriate resourcing to assist delivery, and in particular the identification of critical staffing and training needs to meet delivery that comes with larger NDP allocations. Capacity reviews of departments and agencies feed into the estimates process to ensure appropriate resources for project delivery are in place. Another priority was the resourcing needs of Regulatory/consenting bodies who have a cross-sectoral role in allowing projects to progress, such as An Bord Pleanala where staff numbers have been significantly increased.

As the Deputy may be aware, I took over as chair of the Project Ireland 2040 Delivery Board in May last year to take a direct role in overseeing the delivery of the NDP. My primary focus in this role is on measures that can assist in removing bottlenecks to delivering on the priorities outlined in the NDP – including in the area of public sector capacity – and this will continue to be a key element of the Board’s work in the period ahead.