Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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242. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of times the strategic infrastructure unit in his Department has met since its inception; to provide a breakdown of Departments and agencies that were present at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27673/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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In line with the commitments made in the Programme for Government, I recently announced a series of actions agreed by Government to accelerate the delivery of strategic infrastructure in Ireland. This included the creation of a new Infrastructure Division in the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.

This Division, which includes experts from key delivery agencies, has been established and has been working on key Government priorities. It is initially focussing on the progress of the review of the National Development Plan and the preparation of an evidence-based assessment of the barriers impeding timely infrastructure development.

To support the work of the Division, I have also formed an Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce. I have appointed twelve members to this taskforce, six independent experts, experienced in infrastructure delivery, combined with six ex-officio members, taken from those commercial semi-states at the frontline of infrastructure development and the local government sector.

The taskforce met for the first time on Friday 16th May. This meeting included officials from my Department. I anticipate that the Taskforce will meet monthly hereafter and will engage with those Departments or Agencies it deems necessary to support its functions.