Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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125. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an overview of the investment framework for the NDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15976/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government sets out the clear ambition to prioritise the delivery of transformative, critical and growth-enhancing infrastructure over the next 5 years.

The Review will use an evidence-informed approach to deliver on the Government's objective of infrastructure prioritisation through:

• reassessment of investment plans and capital programmes,
• updating project costings, and
• highlighting any challenges to delivery to ensure value for money.

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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126. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way the Government plans to manage the increasing costs associated with the National Development Plan, especially in the context of inflationary pressures and rising material costs. [15156/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government acknowledges that increasing costs challenge our ability to provide the necessary infrastructure to service a modern society and economy. They also represent a real risk to our competitiveness and to our attractiveness as a location for foreign direct investment, so achieving value for money by reducing cost and schedule overruns is a vital part of delivering the NDP.

Embedding value for money will therefore be a core focus of the review of the National Development Plan. The Review will assess sectoral expenditure and delivery to identify potential efficiencies, so that more infrastructure can be delivered from within the existing level of resources provided. The Review will also ensure that cost estimates for capital projects are appropriate, having been developed against a benchmark and with sufficient contingency, so as to provide greater certainty to Government in making investment decisions.

In addition, the Programme for Government commits my Department to reviewing the Infrastructure Guidelines and creating a Public Investment Act, requiring sponsoring agencies to meet timelines on the development of project appraisals and other evaluations. This will reduce delays in decision making and embed value for money across all capital projects.

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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127. 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. [16097/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation 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 Government committed €165 billion towards capital investment through the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-30 published in 2021. 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). An additional €2.25 billion of windfall corporate tax receipts has also been allocated from 2024 to 2026, to provide funding for critical infrastructure projects that are at an advanced stage, as well as to the existing Climate Action Fund.

In Budget 2025, almost €15 billion was made available from the Exchequer for investment in public capital projects along with €3 billion of funds from the sale of the State’s shareholding in AIB in June 2024. This level of expenditure is pivotal in consolidating the progress already made and in supporting balanced regional development to address key infrastructural bottlenecks more rapidly, and lead to further improvements in living standards and competitiveness.

The NDP contains expenditure commitments for a range of strategic investment priorities which will contribute towards the achievement of the National Strategic Outcomes (NSOs), including NSO 5 which relates to a Strong Economy, supported by Enterprise, Innovation and Skills. This NSO highlights the importance of a competitive, innovative and resilient enterprise base to provide high-quality jobs and employment opportunities for people to live and prosper in all regions.

There are a number of sectoral strategies under this NSO, including the Economic Recovery Plan published in June 2021, Regional Enterprise Plans and the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030.

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 currently being implemented under NSO 5 in the Higher Education sector include:

• New STEM buildings for Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (Athlone campus), Munster Technological University (Tralee campus), Atlantic Technological University (Galway)
• A new learning resource centre for Munster Technological University (Cork)
• A new Digital Media Building for the Institute of Ard, Design and Technology in Dún Laoghaire
• A new Science and Health Building for South East Technological University (Carlow)

Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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128. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an overview of the progress made to date under National Strategic Outcome (NSO) 3 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16070/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation 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 National Strategic Outcome (NSO) 3 which relates to strengthening rural economies and communities. The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), launched in 2018, is providing the investment needed to support rural renewal, strengthen and build resilience in rural towns, villages and communities and deliver on the objectives of Project Ireland 2040. The RRDF is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) and is complemented by a range of additional programmes and schemes delivered under the Department’s Rural Regeneration Programme as part of Project Ireland 2040, which helps maintain and develop the growth and vitality of rural areas and supports communities and organisations to meet their needs. The four schemes funded through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund are the RRDF Category 1 and 2, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.

The RRDF Category 1 and Category 2 funding is targeted towards revitalising rural towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000, and outlying areas. This is being achieved through addressing dereliction, ensuring the re-use of heritage and other buildings and providing essential facilities and infrastructure, including remote working and digital hubs.

Efforts to bring broadband to all parts of rural Ireland, regardless of remoteness, are part of the commitment in the NDP under NSO 3. By extending high-speed broadband to rural areas, it will ensure digital inclusion and economic opportunities to all citizens. I welcome the positive progress being made under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) and I note that, as of 21 March 2025, over half a million premises are at Design Complete stage. The NBP programme is active in every county and is currently ahead of schedule.

The Government is detailing the delivery of the NDP at regular intervals to inform the public on the implementation of Project Ireland 2040. This is achieved through regular updates of the Project Ireland 2040 capital investment tracker and map as well as the publication of annual reports and regional reports highlighting Project Ireland 2040 achievements. These reports give a detailed overview of the public investments which have been made throughout the country, including under NSO 3.

The Project Ireland 2040 annual reports, Regional Reports, capital investment tracker and myProjectIreland interactive map are all available on gov.ie/2040.

Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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129. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an overview of the progress made to date under National Strategic Outcome (NSO) 9 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16299/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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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 9 which relates to the Sustainable Management of Water, Waste and other Environmental Resources. This NSO highlights the centrality of our sustainable water resources to the implementation of the National Planning Framework to underpin our environmental and economic well-being into the future, against the backdrop of the deficits in water services capacity and quality arising from past underinvestment. Investment in the water and waste water network will support environmental and economic wellbeing, deal with population growth and the effects of a changing climate.

The relevant sectoral strategies under this NSO are the Water Services Policy Statement 2018-2025, Uisce Éireann’s National Water Resources Plan and the Government’s Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy. These strategies play a critical role in identifying the goals and priorities for this area and are therefore critical in informing the investment projects set out in the NDP.

In terms of water management, a range of investments are planned and underway under the NDP. Some projects completed in recent years include:

• The Arklow Sewerage Wastewater Treatment Plant
• The Athlone Sewerage Scheme;
• The Millford, Ramelton and Rathmullen Wastewater Treatment Plant and
• The Regional Biosolids storage facility

• The Old Connaught/ Woodbrook Water Scheme
• The Kilkenny Regional Water Supply Scheme;
• The Saggart Reservoir
• The Roscommon Sewerage Scheme
• The Mallow Wastewater Treatment Scheme