Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

128. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures being taken to improve multi-annual capital expenditure planning across Departments, particularly in relation to delays in large infrastructure projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28248/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In line with the commitments made in the Programme for Government, I recently announced a series of actions to accelerate the delivery of strategic infrastructure in Ireland, including an early review of the National Development Plan and the creation of a new Infrastructure Division in my Department.

To give greater certainty for multi-annual capital expenditure planning across Departments, the Government decided that a review of the National Development Plan will be published in July. The core focus of the review is to fund the supporting infrastructure to service 300,000 additional homes by 2030 and to boost our international competitiveness. This will be done by improving our infrastructure, especially housing, energy, water, transport and health digitalisation.

In relation to infrastructure delivery, the new Infrastructure Division will focus on actions that can assist in accelerating key infrastructure projects, particularly in the electricity, water and transport sectors as this is the critical infrastructure required to underpin the delivery of housing and our international competitiveness.

Over the coming weeks, my Department will engage with key stakeholders to gather the evidence necessary to identify the most critical barriers to development. This will be combined with a public consultation that will be launched in June to gather views from a wide range of stakeholders. My officials will also examine what reforms have been successfully introduced in other jurisdictions that may be applicable in Ireland.

I expect to provide a report to Government by the end of July on what we have identified as the most impactful barriers that are slowing infrastructure development. The results of this analysis will inform a focused Action Plan of high-impact reform measures that Government will consider for implementation.