Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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392. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to publish the cost-benefit analysis carried out for the Cork housing and transport elements of the National Development Plan, and to confirm the date of the most recent review. [63985/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The review of the National Development Plan (NDP) published in July represents the largest capital injection in our economy in the history of the State. As part of the NDP Review, Government agreed substantive annual sectoral allocations for 2026 to 2030 and overall Government capital ceilings to 2035. The Review sets out total public capital investment of €275.4 billion to 2035. This comprises €202.4 billion in Exchequer Voted capital expenditure from 2026 to 2035.

Of this, €102.4 billion is being allocated for the next five years – an additional €24 billion on what was previously allocated in the NDP in 2021. A further €10 billion in equity and fund releases is being provided for strategic megaprojects in water, energy and transport. This brings the total additional capital investment to €34 billion for the period to 2030.

In addition to setting multi-annual capital expenditure ceilings for Departments through the NDP process, my Department is responsible for the Infrastructure Guidelines, which set the value for money requirements and guidance for evaluating, planning and managing Exchequer-funded capital projects. A cost-benefit analysis would, dependent on the specific appraisal requirements, be a component of this process.

While my Department maintains this framework, the management, appraisal and delivery of investment projects and public services within allocation and within the national frameworks is ultimately the responsibility of the individual Approving Authority and Accounting Officer. They have responsibility for ensuring the Strategic Assessment and Preliminary Business Case, the Final Business Case, the Project Completion Report and the Ex-post Evaluation Report are published as soon as possible, in particular after the decision to approve the proposal at the relevant stage has been taken.

To ensure value for money and to allow for greater scrutiny and clarity, major capital projects over €200 million must also be reviewed through the External Assurance Process (EAP) and Major Projects Advisory Group (MPAG) at Approval Gate 1 (AG1). These review process are overseen by my Departments.

The Preliminary Business Case for BusConnects Cork underwent this MPAG process, prior to its recent submission to Government for consent for approval at AG1. MPAG review notes are published online by my department, subject to commercial sensitivities.