William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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152. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an update on National Development Plan Projects in County Laois; the progress of each to date; the projected timelines for delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16096/25]

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. Expenditure is therefore allocated on a Departmental basis and not on a geographical basis.

The Government committed €165 billion towards capital investment through the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-30 published in 2021. 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. This builds on the existing funding already available under the NDP out to 2026 and it will mean more schools, housing, transport and healthcare projects can be progressed and delivered for our people across all regions.

In 2025, €15 billion is being made available from the Exchequer for investment in public capital projects. This level of expenditure will be pivotal in consolidating the progress already made, supporting balanced regional development and, most importantly, delivering the necessary infrastructure to support our future climate change obligations as well as our social and economic requirements. The Programme for Government has emphasised the delivery of essential infrastructure as a key driver in attracting and retaining investment in Ireland, growing our economy, fostering regional development, delivering on our housing targets and achieving our ambitious climate goals.

A key commitment of the Programme for Government is to prioritise an early review of the National Development Plan, which will be completed in July 2025. The review is intended to include all proposed Exchequer capital investment priorities for the lifetime of this Government and will seek to allocate the full resources of the Apple Escrow Account, the proceeds of share sales and the distribution of the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund prior to 2030.

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 in County Laois. Examples of projects planned or delivered under the NDP in County Laois include the new Portlaoise Library, social housing at Corrig Glen, Portarlington and an upgrade of St Vincent's Community Nursing Unit in Mountmellick.

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

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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153. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an overview of the progress made to date under National Strategic Outcome 1 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16092/25]

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.

Additionally, the recently agreed Programme for Government sets out that Government will prioritise an early review of the National Development Plan, which will be completed in July 2025. The review of the National Development Plan will encompass all public capital investment and will utilise State funds to support increased capital investment levels in all regions.

NSO 1 – Compact Growth aims to secure the sustainable growth of more compact urban and rural settlements supported by jobs, housing, community services and amenities, rather than sprawl and unplanned, uneconomic growth.

The careful management of sustainable growth for compact cities, towns and villages will add value and create more attractive places in which people can live and work. This is a fundamental principle of the National Planning Framework which the NDP is seeking to deliver and will require streamlined and coordinated investment in urban, rural and regional infrastructure by public authorities to realise the potential of infill development areas within our cities, towns and villages.

Details of projects and programmes being delivered under NSO 1 can be found in the capital investment tracker which 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 and will be updated in Q2 2025.