Vol. 1086 No. 5
6. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will provide an update on reform of the ethics in public office legislation, given that the review of the statutory framework was completed in December 2022; the reason for the delay in publishing the heads of a Bill; if he expects this Bill to be introduced this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40505/26]
As the Minister knows, the ethics in public office legislation is very important in terms of public confidence in officeholders and public bodies. The review of the statutory framework was completed in 2022, almost four years ago. The heads of Bill should have followed quickly after that, yet here we are, in the middle of 2026, and there are no heads of Bill. What is causing the delay? When are we going to see the heads of Bill? We were promised two years ago by the then Minister, Paschal Donohoe, that it was almost ready.
The programme for Government commits to updating the ethics in public office legislation. I assure the Deputy that this remains a priority. I have updated Government colleagues this week with a memorandum for information on the progress that is being made. However, as the Deputy is aware, this is a complex area and careful consideration is required across a range of issues before detailed proposals are progressed.
I want to advance the programme for Government commitment, which represents an opportunity to make real and meaningful long-term change and reform to our current system. I am determined that this should happen in a way that is coherent from a policy perspective, but also streamlined from an operational perspective. As the Deputy mentions, my Department has already prepared the ground through a comprehensive review of the legislative framework for ethics. Very broadly, this found that the legislative framework for ethics should be underpinned by a set of integrity principles; that disclosure requirements should be strengthened to improve transparency; that consideration should be given to whether the regime should encompass more officeholders; and that the Standards in Public Office Commission should be strengthened. A variety of significant operational and policy considerations flow from this review and its recommendations.
I brought a memorandum to Government this week, and my officials will undertake further engagement with affected end-users of the system. This includes, at the outset, both Committees on Members’ Interests. The purpose of this exercise is to gain insight into the practicalities of how the ethics system works. This outreach is a limited, targeted exercise. It is not a re-opening of the broader consultation process, which is now complete. My officials are seeking to understand how the processes and procedures of making ethics returns could potentially be streamlined and modernised. I want to ensure that those procedures, under a reformed regime and new legislation, are efficient, user-friendly and future-proofed. Following this, I hope to conclude the process around the drafting of the general scheme, which will then progress in the context of the programme for Government commitment.
With respect, the Minister has talked a lot about the need to speed up the delivery of critical infrastructure, which I support. Yet here he is, giving an answer about how he is slowing down this process. The statutory review was completed almost four years ago, and the heads of Bill were promised by the Minister’s predecessor, Paschal Donohoe, as almost ready in May two years ago.
These processes were substantially concluded four years ago but now the Minister is saying that we need to do more. Meanwhile, the Government is setting up more public bodies year after year and the number of such bodies that escape the SIPO requirements under legislation grows year after year. We now have 49 public bodies not covered by SIPO because of the inaction of the Minister and his predecessors. It is growing year by year and that is not acceptable. Every year SIPO publishes a report saying that it needs stronger powers. The substantive work on this was completed four years ago. When are we actually going to see the heads of a Bill? When is this going to come into force or is the Minister just going to slow this down and delay it further? That is what is happening now.
The purpose of bringing a memorandum to Government was to update colleagues on the progress being made around the policy context here. What we are seeking to do, rather than just adding additional legislative provisions, which obviously will be advanced through a general scheme, is to ensure that we digitalise and simplify the process of making a return and that has to be future proofed around particular legislation. It will make it a much better and more transparent system. What we are seeking to do in the context of ensuring we have a positive and strengthened general scheme is to do a direct engagement with all parties and members through the Committees on Member' Interests on the current end user interface and reflect that in a general scheme. That will help the progression of the work. My plan then would be to bring the general scheme to Government, having concluded that exercise, and then progress the legislation. It is not a reopening of the consultation process, to be clear. It is simply to ensure the legislative provisions reflect a streamlined and modernised system that actually makes it easier for people to use. We have a predominantly paper-based system today which can be improved when people are making submissions and returns.
When the Minister issued a press release on it this week, I was genuinely delighted. I thought this was finally coming to fruition and completion but then I read the press release and saw that was not the case. The rationale the Minister is giving is that we are going to move from a paper-based system to an online system, which is absolutely correct but at the same time, we are not able to get on with what was completed four years ago. We are in 2026 now. How does it take so long to develop a digitised system? Meanwhile, year after year, more and more public bodies escape the provisions of the ethics legislation. Is the Minister not really concerned that we now have 49 public bodies not covered by the ethics legislation? Under his watch this is getting worse, as year after year more and more public bodies are set up but are not named as being covered. This is urgent. Surely the Minister agrees this is urgent. Every single public body should be covered by the ethics legislation. Surely there should be no more delays in that. If the Minister is not able to get his act together on the digitisation, he could always come back to it later and get it done through additional legislation.
It is important to ensure we future proof the legislative provisions or a general scheme. Even in the past year or two there has been a change of context. If we look back at the experience with the 2015 public sector standards Bill, it did not progress and it lapsed. It is important to ensure that any legislation or scheme we introduce is progressed and enacted. There is no reopening of it, to be clear. What we are trying to do is ensure that we draft the scheme in the context of future proofing it. It should be simplified and strengthened in terms of a digital interface. That has to be underpinned through a legislative context. We are getting direct feedback from members who make the current submissions on how that will be strengthened. In the aftermath of that, my plan is to conclude the work on a general scheme and progress it. I want to ensure we enact a Bill. The last time we actually had a Bill progressing was the 2015 Bill, which was not enacted. It was criticised for being overly complex and difficult to comprehend during debates in the Oireachtas. I want to ensure we have a system that is reformed and can work for those who are making submissions.
7. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update regarding investment in critical infrastructure in the west of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40153/26]
As Minister for public expenditure, I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level. As part of the budgetary process each year, my Department sets overall expenditure ceilings for each ministerial Vote group. These are laid out at Vote level in the budget day expenditure report published in October, with further detail provided in the Revised Estimates for public services published in December.
Following the allocation of each ministerial expenditure ceiling, it is a matter for Ministers to assign funding as appropriate at programme and subhead level for their Departments and for the agencies and bodies under their remit. They must account for the demands for services in different areas and regions, having regard to demographics and other relevant factors. Within this process, both current and capital expenditure are allocated on a departmental basis.
Balanced regional development is a key priority of this Government and is at the heart of the national planning framework, NPF, which sets out the overall spatial strategy for the next 20 years, along with the national development plan, NDP. Each Minister is responsible for deciding on the priority programmes and projects that will be delivered under his or her remit within the NDP and for setting out the timelines for delivery.
Since Project Ireland 2040 was first launched in 2018, the Government has overseen the delivery of many impactful NDP projects across the West. For example, in transport we have the N17-N18 Gort to Tuam project comprising 54 km of motorway and 3 km of dual carriageway; the N59 Moycullen bypass; the Salmon Weir Bridge in Galway; and the Killaloe Bypass in Clare. Other projects include the upgrade and rehabilitation of the Roscommon sewer network; the development of the Oweninny wind farm; the development of enterprise centres in Boyle and Tulsk in Roscommon and in Belmullet and Swinford in Mayo; as well as heritage and tourism projects in Portumna in Galway and Aghleam in Mayo. There have also been numerous projects delivered in the housing, education, health, and rural development sectors.
The programme for Government set out the clear prioritisation for the NDP review to ensure that investment can be maximised in the coming five years across strategic infrastructure. This includes the key energy, water and transport networks on which all future development relies.
I want to focus on healthcare in the west because the masterplan for University Hospital Galway, UHG, and the redevelopment of the hospital is a critical project for our region to ensure that we have a modern, resilient, future proofed, model 4 hospital and to ensure that staff and patients get the facilities they deserve. It includes 300 new inpatient beds, a new emergency department, critical care, surgical theatres, a cancer centre, maternity and children services and much more. In recent weeks a design team was appointed for the 300 bed ward block at UHG. It is crucial that all of this is delivered in a timely manner but, unfortunately, people in Galway have little faith in the Government's ability to deliver on critical infrastructure. One just has to look at the ring road saga, which has dragged on for two decades, to understand why. They want assurances that the redevelopment of UHG will be progressed quickly and will not face delays. The Critical Infrastructure Bill has gone through this House. The Minister has indicated that certain projects will be fast tracked under that legislation. Will he give a commitment today that the UHG plans will be designated as critical infrastructure?
I thank the Deputy for the question. I met with some of the management team for the development board with our by-election candidate, Councillor Cillian Keane, Deputy John Connolly and Senator Ollie Crowe in recent weeks. I fully appreciate the need for improved bed capacity for the west of Ireland and for Galway. It is absolutely required, which is why the Government and the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, have significantly strengthened the capital allocation to the Department of Health to ensure we build much-improved bed capacity for areas like Galway and the west of Ireland. I want to work with the hospital to ensure the design phase, which it is currently in, is progressed quickly. The Government wants to see some of that progress to construction. Similarly with the ring road, we want to see that built. Planning permission is now in place and we need to ensure it is built.
The Critical Infrastructure Bill is in the Seanad. We will stand up a process, following its enactment, on what projects are designated and when. Speaking generally, obviously if a project is in the early phase of design or development, it may not be ready for designation. We want to ensure that across the transport, water, and energy sectors and in certain instances, in health infrastructure, we designate and fast track projects. Part of that will be through the provisions of the Critical Infrastructure Bill and part of it through the wider reforms we are introducing to cut timelines. I share the Deputy's objectives for both of the projects he mentioned.
This is very important. There are regional inequalities in the area of healthcare, and these are particularly stark when it comes to cancer care. We do not have any PET scanners in public hospitals in the west. In many cases, patients can wait weeks before starting treatment for cancer. It is right across the board. We have seen elective procedures postponed at UHG due to overcrowding, with patients on trolleys and long waits in the accident and emergency department. We need the best possible facilities for people in Galway and right across the west of Ireland. It is what they deserve. A person's post code should not determine the quality of care that he or she receives, but that is the reality at present.
If we are serious about addressing this, the redevelopment of UHG has to be fast-tracked, it has to be made a priority and the necessary investment has to be forthcoming. There are real concerns that the Government has not budgeted sufficiently for the infrastructure either . This cannot be another project that is held up indefinitely. I understand that it is at an early stage, but I still ask the Minister to give a commitment that this is going to be fast-tracked as a critical infrastructure project. It is so important for the west of Ireland.
It absolutely needs to progress quickly. Part of that is to do with ensuring that the HSE is efficient in how it turns around the design proposals. We must also look at how we get it into the planning process and turned around quickly. In what we set out in the infrastructure reforms, part of the improvement to accelerate infrastructure may involve designation for any project. The other elements are about ensuring that we have better performance across the lifecycle of a project from the point at which someone has a concept in order that we save more time before the planning application is made. We must also standardise the overall construction aspect of particular projects in order that they will be built quicker.
I share with the Deputy the objective of improved bed capacity for the west of Ireland and Galway and in the next number of years. I had a very good meeting with the development board on their next steps. I have not set out any designation at this point because the Bill has not yet been enacted. The process will follow when that happens.
8. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the way in which digitalisation of public services is being managed to enhance service delivery for rural people, taking into account that those with limited broadband access or digital skills will not be left behind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40066/26]
23. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the inclusion strategy to ensure that no one is left behind by the move to a digital society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40754/26]
In the move to increasingly digitalised services, it is hugely important that people are not left behind, including anybody who is not able to partake of such services. Digital by default cannot mean digital only. There are large numbers of people in different areas who are finding things more and more difficult. Will the Minister of State outline the efforts the Government is making to ensure that everybody is included?
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 23 together.
The Government's better public services strategy commits to delivering inclusive, high-quality and integrated public services that meet people's needs and improve the delivery of services. The Digital Public Services Plan 2030 advances this ambition by embedding a life events methodology whereby services are designed around moments in people's lives, for example, the birth of a child and supporting the bereaved, rather than administrative structures.
With regard to the issues raised, there has been significant progress in digital infrastructure with the roll-out of the national broadband plan, which, I am sure they will agree, has been a huge success, and broadband for schools and related supporting programmes such as the public library strategy. National Broadband Ireland, NBI, has passed almost 460,000 homes, farms and businesses in rural Ireland, with 170,000 connected to high-speed broadband.
Our approach is very clear. We are digital by desire as opposed to digital by default. As part of the service design and delivery, we actively consider the needs of all people, including older people. Part of the dialogue in the Department is to consider the needs of people, including older people and those who are not confident using digital channels. To that end, we examine the use of blended and complementary channels and support, building on the work we are already doing to increase accessibility, for example, through our public libraries network, which is a nationwide service that continues to provide support for digital inclusion and literacy activities at its branches. We are in a much better place when we look at the roll-out of the national broadband service. Deputy Moynihan will see it in his constituency, even in the context of small houses or people working from home. This is the way forward, but we need to include everyone in order that no one will be left behind.
It is interesting that the Minister of State put a lot of focus on the NBI roll-out across the country. The NBI starts in one place and finishes in another. Guess where the last places are that are getting it? They are located in the area west of Macroom. Our three switches remain to be activated, along with some of the other communities across the country that have yet to get be given access to broadband by NBI. It would be helpful if we could put in an extra push to encourage NBI to finish it out. It is currently working on some of the switches in Dunmanway, Carriganima and Ballingeary. This would be a great example of how we could push to make sure that digital services are available to people. Is it possible to engage with NBI to ensure that we get delivery on the service locally this year?
We all have issues, and the Deputy has rightly articulated the issue relating to his area being included. If we look at it from a positive point of view, I understand that NBI is ahead of schedule. However, there are a few areas in respect of which we may need to contact NBI. We talk about public infrastructure. This is public infrastructure that is ahead of what was planned for.
Enabling access to public services is very important to the Government as we work together to accelerate transformational change in how we deliver public services. We are trying to digitalise public services and the Department is taking the life events approach, as outlined in the digital public services plan. We want to reorient the service around key moments in people's lives and ensure a more proactive approach by the Government in providing services. All of this is done with inclusion and accessibility as the guiding principles in order to ensure that no one is left behind. The better public services programme involves a clear and explicit commitment to redesigning public services around the needs of users in order to ensure that services work equally well for both people who engage digitally and those who do not. We want to bring in all the stakeholders and try to make things as easy as possible for people across the country, especially older people.
Will the Minister of State outline the level of co-ordination with the larger stakeholders such as banks, financial services companies and the Department of Social Protection? Unfortunately, across my community, we have had bank branch closures in Dunmanway, Millstreet and Kanturk. In addition, the public counter in the PTSB branch in Macroom has been withdrawn. Just recently, the ATM in Newmarket was removed. This puts extra pressure on people. It pushes some individuals who are not entirely comfortable operating digitally and who would prefer to do their business with a person over the counter. It puts them in a more difficult position. Will the Minister of State outline the co-ordination taking place with banks and financial services companies to ensure that rural communities and people of all ages who may not be comfortable operating in this space, whether it is as a result of literacy issues or the fact that they may not be digital natives, are not left behind?
It is an interesting question. The Deputy has seen that the Government can consult with banks, but we have a very limited role in that regard. I would like to think that banks would consult with each other. Consider the position of towns where there clearly is no need for two bank branches and both are closed. Instead of talking to each other and saying "Look, we will close our branch in this town and you close yours in the next town", they close both branches. Bank of Ireland could keep its branch in one place and AIB could leave its branch open in another location. There does not seem to be any consultation. If consultation has taken place, it does not, as the Deputy outlined, seem to have taken the needs of the people in rural communities into account.
It is good to see that the credit unions, for which I have a great deal of time, have taken up the challenge and are providing a banking culture and ATMs. The banks were a little hasty. They have their own business models, but I do not think they considered the needs of the people or discussed the matter with each other. Again, I want to pay tribute to the credit unions for stepping up to the plate and providing the services to which I refer.
10. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on implementation of the report of the accelerating infrastructure task force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40723/26]
53. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the accelerating infrastructure task force report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40806/26]
55. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will report on the implementation of the accelerating infrastructure plan. [40277/26]
61. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the work the Government has undertaken to improve the speed of delivery of vitally needed infrastructure projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40746/26]
Can the Minister report on the implementation of the accelerating infrastructure plan?
I propose to take Question Nos. 10, 53, 55 and 61 together.
As Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation, I am responsible for setting the overall expenditure allocations and monitoring it at Departmental level. In the programme for Government, there is a clear prioritisation of the NDP review to ensure that investment for strategic infrastructure can be maximised in the coming five years. This includes the key areas of energy, water and transport on which all future development relies.
These sectors were further defined as critical infrastructure in the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan published last December. This report sets out 30 targeted actions grouped under four areas, with each addressing a key area of reform, and legal reform noted as a core element for accelerating infrastructure across the country. Among other measures, this work will include increasing exemption thresholds for critical infrastructure and reform processes with agencies and regulators, advocating for a new approach to legislation at EU level and creating a duty for State bodies to co-operate in making land available and accessible for critical infrastructure. At the end of quarter 1, strong progress was recorded across the 30 actions in the report, with many legislative, regulatory and process changes delivered. All commitments for target delivery by end of quarter one have been completed, and all remaining commitments for quarter 2 and beyond are currently on track.
With regard to legislative reform, the Critical Infrastructure Bill has been approved by the Government. The Bill is before the Seanad. It passed Second Stage there on 20 May. It was passed by the Dáil in recent weeks.
In the context of regulatory reform, certain revisions of existing licences through the Environmental Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2026 have been signed into law. This will mean that small scale water discharges can now be registered by means of a short online administrative process rather than requiring a certificate of authorisation, which could have taken up to 150 weeks to process. These changes are giving quicker decisions to licence-holders and more certainty on timelines.
The Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, has made progress with granting fit and proper designations to Uisce Éireann and local authorities. This move is estimated to have reduced the average time relating to the granting of new consents and licences by more than 30%. Changes that have been made to project delivery have seen an estimated average saving of 26 weeks on projects, such as the Waterford wastewater treatment plant, which is now at detailed design stage.
The Department continues to progress with planned actions for quarter 2 and beyond. We remain committed to the delivery of the plan. The Cabinet committee on infrastructure is updated regularly on progress, with the accelerating infrastructure task force, AIT, meeting monthly and continuing to support the delivery of the plan.
As regards our commitments across infrastructure delivery, we said we would prioritise an early review of the national development plan. This was completed and published in July 2025. We also said we would review and reform the prioritisation of capital projects in key agencies. This was completed through the publication of sectoral investment plans last year. We have established the Cabinet committee on infrastructure delivery and broadened the remit of the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, to provide expert advice for major infrastructure.
As the Deputy will be aware, the infrastructure division of my Department has been stood up. The Department is working to drive multiple reforms across all of the areas to which I refer. We can have confidence that the cumulative impact of all 30 actions will make a significant difference in accelerating delivery across this year. To give an example, we have been informed by Uisce Éireann that we should have 12 months off the greater Dublin drainage project, a change made with confidence due to system changes and reforms we introduced. The timelines for marine area consents have also been reduced by 30% for fit and proper bodies. We want to simplify wider processes, which is why the Critical Infrastructure Bill is progressing at pace through the Houses. We also have the joint utilities and transport clearing house, which has started reducing co-ordination delays that are an issue across different areas of public administration.
We are working with the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, to simplify certain key licences, and we have got several major projects that should advance much quicker in that context. That is a broad overview of some of the areas involved.
I welcome the fact that all of the targets relating to the infrastructure plan are being hit. The Minister and his staff are to be complimented on ensuring that this has happened. I also welcome the Government's continued focus on accelerating the delivery of crucial infrastructure projects, particularly in view of the importance of housing, transport and utilities to economic growth and regional development.
One issue that is occasionally raised by communities, businesses and local authorities is the need for greater co-ordination and faster decision-making across the agencies and Departments involved in major projects. Delays in infrastructure delivery can have very real consequences for housing supply, inward investment and regional growth.
Can the Minister outline what practical improvements are being seen on the ground as a result of the implementation of the accelerated infrastructure plan? Can he indicated whether measurable timelines for delivery are beginning to improve as a result of the reforms and co-ordination measures introduced?
A practical example is the wastewater treatment plant in respect of which 26 weeks have been saved due to the removal of the external assurance process and reviews, as well as changes to the thresholds that I introduced in reforms to the infrastructure guidelines. The latter was an additional step that added time. Under the wider assessment carried out last year, we had to measure the time it had taken some of these processes against the cost of delay. That example of the wastewater treatment plant should be replicated across other projects Irish Water will be progressing through its project development lifecycle.
Similarly, the greater Dublin drainage project, is a multimillion megaproject being done by Irish Water. Due to some of the changes we have made, Irish Water has, with confidence, been able to bring the completion date forward by 12 months, which will give greater confidence in the context of construction and housing supply in the medium term. This is a critical project for the delivery of housing supply along the east coast. However, we also have multiple other areas across transport and energy. We have work ongoing by the joint utilities and transport clearing house, which has identified ten specific barriers or challenges to co-ordination across utilities or delivery bodies in Departments and agencies. These are being worked through by my Department in order to save time and improve co-ordination.
We are seeing improvements, but we have other changes we have to make. I have spoken about improved risk appetite in the public service, and I will be publishing risk appetite statements and bringing them to Government in the coming weeks. This will ensure that we increase the risk appetite to get things done and to deal with some of the risk aversion we have seen.
We have also made changes to environmental legal fees. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and I signed the regulation in that regard to cap fees, which was one of the legal reforms referenced.
The Minister for justice, Deputy O'Callaghan, is advancing the placement of judicial reviews on a statutory footing with the civil reform Bill. Obviously, once we enact the Critical Infrastructure Bill, we will be able to commence a process of designation which will help to fast-track several projects.
I know from our engagement with utilities in the context of energy, transport and water sectors, that there is much greater confidence in the construction sector because of what we progressed under the national development plan. Planned projects in regions, towns and villages now have the headroom and pipeline from a sectoral investment perspective, which will help bring confidence to this.
I thank the Minister for that. It all sounds great. I appreciate the 26 weeks and the 12 months that have been saved by Uisce Éireann. However, one of the biggest concerns I hear from councillors, other public representatives and communities is not simply the level of investment going into Uisce Éireann - and very significant State funding was put in by the Minister in the budget - but, rather, whether the organisation has the operational capacity and responsiveness necessary to manage that investment effectively and to communicate clearly with communities.
For instance, in my county of Offaly, Edenderry, Birr, Banagher and other areas are already at capacity in the context of wastewater. This is directly impacting future housing and development potential, yet there remains a lack of clarity around timelines and planned upgrades. Similar concerns are arising in other places , including Tullamore and Tyrells Road. The improvement of water infrastructure in Tullamore was supposed to start in the final quarter of this year or the first quarter of next year, but it has now been pushed out to 2028.
Does the Minister accept there is a need for stronger accountability, engagement and transparency from Uisce Éireann with elected representatives from local communities in order that people can clearly understand what infrastructure projects are planned, what stage they are at and when delivery can realistically be expected?
I know the matter of Irish Water and its engagement with public representatives has been raised a number of times. Irish Water is on the infrastructure task force, and I will take the Deputy's comments away as a need to strengthen engagement. The challenge last year was a funding one. There had been consistent issues and concerns within both the construction sector, which works in partnership with Irish Water, and Irish Water itself about the level of funding and its capital plans. We responded to that with a €12 billion allocation. Some €2 billion of the €12 billion is even additional headroom for housing supply. We want to ensure that Irish Water builds and advances many of these projects. I do not have a specific breakdown with respect to its wastewater treatment plants or some of its water supply plans at a local level with me but I have heard a number of times the challenge the Deputy has referred to. It has been raised with the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste in other questions about the public engagement piece and the clarity of project delivery in certain towns and villages. I will engage directly with Irish Water on that because there should be clarity with respect to capital plans also across housing development. People need to know their ability to connect into a wastewater treatment plant and how that meets their objectives with respect to planning permissions they may want to commence. I will take that away. Now that we have responded to the question of funding, the question about reforming the delivery system to make it much quicker to deliver across many of the barriers and the areas which were identified in partnership with Irish Water, which has been very positive and constructive on the infrastructure task force, there is a need to ensure that communities and those in the construction sector have a sense of what is possible with particular projects. We will take that away and reflect the Deputy's feedback. I will come back to him directly on the matter.
11. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if overall public expenditure is within profile to date in 2026. [40338/26]
Since the beginning of the year, there have been significant spending shocks, including the likes of the Department of education and the war in West Asia, driving fuel prices and the need for a support package as a result for so many users. Will the Minister advise if overall expenditure is still on profile?
The latest fiscal monitor, published on 6 May, showed that at the end of April gross voted expenditure amounted to €36 billion. This is a €2.9 billion, or 8.9%, increase compared with April 2025 and reflects the implementation of the priorities set out in budget 2026 and the significant uplift in expenditure to support programme for Government commitments. Compared with the profiles set out by Departments for their planned spending over the year, this was €600 million, or 1.8%, below profile.
Looking at the composition of spending, current expenditure at the end of April was €32.3 billion, which was €250 million, or 0.8%, below profile. Capital expenditure was €3.8 billion, which was €400 million, or 9.5%, below profile.
It is early in the year to say what spending levels seen to date might mean for the end-year position. My Department is in ongoing contact with all finance officers to monitor and review expenditure trends. While the overall expenditure position at the end of April is within profile, the end-of-April current expenditure year-on-year growth rate of 9.3% will need to moderate over the year.
Ensuring that public money is spent efficiently, and that taxpayers see clear outputs and outcomes from public spending, is a core priority for my Department and for the Government. The Government agreed a medium-term fiscal and structural plan last December, which set out ceilings for the period to 2030. It provides for significant uplifts in expenditure, with gross voted spending to reach €147.3 billion in 2030. To ensure we progress across this structural plan, there is a need for strengthened expenditure control and renewed fiscal discipline. It is the responsibility of the Accounting Officer in each Department to ensure that they manage their expenditure allocations sustainably and in accordance with the allocation approved by the Dáil.
My Department recently issued Circular 21/2026, Expenditure Control and Escalation Process, to all Government Departments. It reinforces other recent measures to strengthen expenditure control, provides a clear framework for managing expenditure and sets out phases for escalation if spending overruns emerge. Where expenditure pressures persist, the circular sets out a framework for when and how my Department will engage with respect to other Government-----
Thank you, Minister.
I will come back with a supplementary answer.
A significant support package had to be put in place for fuel and transport earlier this year arising from that conflict in West Asia. I am conscious that the date for the agri scheme has been extended from Wednesday through to next Tuesday to ensure that the maximum number of farmers and contractors can get their applications in. I understand that a Supplementary Estimate on that is due in the weeks ahead. I am conscious that no matter how quickly that conflict in the Gulf were to be resolved - and it needs to be resolved sooner rather than later - elevated fuel prices would continue for some time and likely feed through into so many other costs for people. Does the Department have space to extend the schemes that are there if the conflict and the high pressure continue through the summer? Many of those schemes are due to end during the summer.
Obviously, that was and is an important fiscal intervention to respond to the energy spike we have seen, particularly with respect to the transport and the agriculture sectors. We are following the wider guidance we see from the IMF and others, that is, that schemes should be temporary, targeted and time bound in order that they do not involve permanent expenditure implications. We have said consistently that in July, when some of the interventions are due to lapse, we will assess that in the context of the energy position globally and make an informed decision in that context. I brought to the Government the two Supplementary Estimates relating to transport and agriculture on Tuesday of this week. We are conscious of continuing to review the overall position. Some of the schemes - for example, in the agriculture sector - have a five-month timeline as regards their wider implementation. We will assess that in July. We are not making any commitments until we can assess the position in July because some of the decisions run to that point.
Yes, it is right to focus on where the greatest need is. So many farmers and contractors were under phenomenal pressure. They are getting their applications in at the moment. It is a very busy time of year for them. We are also all watching that date in the summer when the schemes and the supports would be expected to finish out. The Minister is right that the Department will have to review the position at that point. The key question, then, is whether the Department has the fiscal space or the funding available or whether it will need further Supplementary Estimates at that point to return and to review those supports or any other supports that might be needed later in the summer. Is the funding there?
As the Deputy knows, in the annual progress report that is published, we expect to run a general government surplus of about €9 billion this year. We are running a surplus, which makes the case for the importance of having fiscal buffers in a world which is so uncertain in the context of geopolitical conflict and when we have spending demands every day in this House across multiple areas. It is important that we review that in July and that we are careful in the context of further interventions. We know from the Covid pandemic and the cost-of-living period in 2022 that, notwithstanding the temporary nature of some of those schemes, they had permanent expenditure implications in certain areas, which then created trade-offs or constraints in future decisions that could be made. We will review that and take an informed decision in July. We are conscious of the dynamism of the global energy market and the need to respond with respect to particular sectors but it is important we implement the schemes being applied for presently, which may reflect more support here than in many other countries, and then take an informed position in July. We will know where the position is at that point.
12. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the engagement he has had to date with a group (details supplied); if his Department is in a position to provide funding for the reimbursement of repaired infrastructure damaged in the wake of storm Babet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40451/26]
What engagement has the Minister has had to date with the Willowbank residents' association, Willowbank, Midleton, County Cork, which spent €7,752 on repairing the estates wall in the immediate aftermath of flooding caused by Storm Babet? Is his Department in a position to provide funding for the reimbursement of repaired infrastructure damaged in the wake of Storm Babet?
I am aware of the devastating impact flooding had on homeowners, businesses and the communities of Midleton and across east Cork during Storm Babet. While the issue raised is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, my office in October 2025 corresponded directly with the Willowbank residents' association secretary, following contact between my office and Cork County Council. Cork County Council advised the OPW that funding had been made available to the council by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to assist with the repair of damaged infrastructure across east Cork following Storm Babet. Cork County Council further advised that the repair of the wall at Willowbank, which was commenced by the residents, was completed using this funding.
The strategic emergency management framework sets out the emergency management practice at national level and designates lead Departments for a range of emergency types. Under this framework, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage leads the response to severe weather events through the national directorate for fire and emergency management. Accordingly, there is no emergency response funding mechanism available in the OPW that would see emergency response actions such as those undertaken by citizens in Willowbank being refunded by my office. The Government is fully committed to providing support through the national development plan, providing €58 million for the Midleton flood relief scheme. A planning application is estimated to be submitted by Cork County Council to An Coimisiún Pleanála in quarter 3 of 2026 and be completed by 2031, protecting up to 750 properties that flooded during Storm Babet. The scheme will protect Willowbank residents going forward.
I thank the Minister of State for his response and acknowledge his impact and that he met the residents of Midleton. He was in Midleton and I acknowledge that and thank him for that. I understand he is familiar with the situation in Willowbank because they have been in touch with his office. The Willowbank housing estate was affected by flooding following Storm Babet in October 2023. Several houses were flooded when one of the walls in the estate gave way under pressure from the overflowing Owennacurra river. Willowbank residents carried out repairs to the collapsed sections of the wall in the days afterwards as they were fearful of a repeat flooding. Financing of the repairs of the wall was provided by the residents' association at a cost of €7,752 through the estate's fund. The association has yet to recoup any of this expenditure and this shortfall has severely impacted estate maintenance. I acknowledge the OPW does not have a funding emergency response but has the Minister has any engagement to date with Cork County Council or with his counterparts in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on this matter? What is the situation going forward?
As I set out at the start, this falls under the Department of housing. That is not me passing the buck. There is no mechanism in the OPW to refund the residents. I respect the work the residents took it upon themselves to do, and I give great credit to them. I met them in Midleton. Somebody must have advised them when they did this work that they would recoup the money and that is the area they should be focused on, and whether it is through the local authority. In fairness to the local authorities, they are very much engaged with my office. They looked to see whether we could fund it and we said, "No, there's no mechanism in our funding stream to allow us to do that." The job has been done. Funding was received from the Department with responsibility for the emergency response to support the local authorities going forward but there is no mechanism within my remit to support the residents. While I would love to, I am afraid I do not have the mechanism to do so.
I acknowledge there has been some improvement in east Cork with the continued roll-out of flood barriers through the individual property protection scheme. I thank the Minister and his Department for that. However, every effort should be made to reimburse the residents' association for such a small amount in the grand scheme of the €50 million-plus Midleton relief scheme. That is where the residents are mixed up. There was so much money but they cannot recoup €7,700. The residents find that hard to understand.
I know my colleague, Councillor Rory Cocking, has raised the answer regularly at the quarterly Midleton flood committee meetings and has written directly to the Minister of State's office and the Minister for housing. However, the situation remains the same, as the Minister of State acknowledged.
We have seen other instances of extreme flooding across the country in recent times; surely similar flood protection works by residents have been undertaken elsewhere. Are any measures being considered by the Department that would see emergency response actions, such as those undertaken by the citizens in Willowbank, being refunded? Will the Minister of State or his Department officials consider meeting with residents to further discuss this matter? I thank the Minister of State for all his input so far.
The Deputy has put about seven questions in a couple of lines there. I give him credit for that. As I said at the outset, there is no mechanism. I am fully focused on protecting the people of Midleton and east Cork. I have put huge efforts in, as has my Department, in relation to working with the council to get our planning applications submitted quarterly. I am advancing on that and want to see it happen as fast as possible to protect people.
On the question the Deputy keeps raising, there is no mechanism. I am sorry to say that but there is no mechanism. I have no issue, when I go back down to Midleton, with meeting the people. I think the only option available to them is through the local authority and to see if the council has a discretionary fund that may be able to help them. I do not know if that is possible. It is something that has happened in my constituency over the years and we reached out to help. I give credit to every residents' association up and down the country that takes interim measures. Since coming back into the role involving the Office of Public Works, I have brought in many changes in recent months. I have been meeting people in all the areas flooded since Christmas and providing interim measures. That is a way forward. As those measures are being rolled out, it is open to Cork County Council to look at interim measures to support people in those areas.
13. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation Digitisation if he will consider instructing Departments and bodies under his remit to include an additional column in their published purchase order reports to indicate the specific contract under which each payment is made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40546/26]
Will the Minister consider instructing Departments and bodies under his remit to include an additional column in their published purchase order reports to indicate the specific contract under which each payment is made? From a purchase order report, I can see who was paid, how much they were paid and when they were paid but I cannot see what they were paid for. The only way we can do that is by linking it back to the original contract.
I thank Deputy Dolan. I am committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in public expenditure, including in relation to the publication of purchase orders over €20,000. In this context, my Department has an effective process in place to produce the quarterly purchase order report in a timely manner.
The publication of purchase order data over €20,000 stems from a commitment in the programme for Government and public service reform plan in 2011. Since then, my Department, in common with many other public bodies, has developed standardised reporting processes to enable timely and efficient publication of this information. In line with evolving best practice, my Department has enhanced the accessibility of these reports, including by making them machine readable, aligning with open data guidance and principles. Furthermore, my Department has recently written to Secretaries General of all Departments reiterating the statutory obligations of public bodies under the open data directive and the Freedom of Information Act 2014. In the context of continuing to enhance transparency, I am open to examining how additional information could be provided in a meaningful way.
In respect of the Deputy’s proposal to include an additional column identifying the contract under which each payment is made, I acknowledge the potential benefits to transparency and expenditure reporting. However, I have been informed by officials the feasibility of implementing such a requirement across Departments and agencies is contingent on the configuration and capabilities of existing financial management systems. Any proposed change of this nature would require further detailed consideration, including clarification of the specific information requirements, assessment of system capabilities and evaluation of associated costs and administrative impacts.
My Department will continue to engage with stakeholders on opportunities to improve reporting in a manner that is practical, proportionate and sustainable and in line with the wider direction the Deputy has outlined.
I thank the Minister for his work in writing to all the State bodies to remind them of their obligation under the EU open data directive that they have to publish their purchase orders in machine-readable format. To give the Minister an example, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, the children's hospital and the Arts Council were not publishing but once he wrote to them, this ensured that they did start publishing. We had written to them as well. The Minister will be aware of my work with my team in collating all the information to get over €100 billion in procurement spend tracked over the past decade. It goes back to the fundamental point that the State can tell us that a payment was made but it is not easy to see which contract authorised it. Some entities and some suppliers have multiple contracts with multiple State entities and it is actually really difficult to see exactly what they were doing or what they provided. For Ministers and for everyone to be able to assess what value was actually provided, we need to know which contract underpinned that spend. That is where I am going with this and that is where that additional column needs to come in.
I thank the Deputy. I commend all his work and policy proposals in this area. I think we can all agree that enhancing transparency is absolutely a desirable objective. I am open to examining how additional information can be provided in a meaningful way to achieve that. In terms of wider moves towards standardisation, part of what my officials are now examining is what the various systems and operational capacities are in particular Departments and agencies to achieve that. More broadly and in line with the focus of transparency, I am conscious of the critical role public procurement plays, particularly in maintaining and building public trust in Government. Billions of euro are spent on public contracts every year and, as the Deputy said, the public need to be confident that their money is being spent in a judicious and fair manner. Likewise, suppliers need to trust the integrity of the procurement system if we are to drive participation and increased competition. In that line, I am concluding a new national procurement strategy, which I hope to bring to Government before the summer recess. There are different elements, with transparency-related procurement processes and data and organisation planning being consolidated into a broader pillar, again, to strengthen trust and transparency.
The Office of Government Procurement stopped centrally collecting procurement spend data in 2019 citing general data protection regulation, GDPR, concerns and six years later, nothing has replaced it. The Department is estimating its procurement spend using estimated tender values on eTenders, not actual expenditure data. I believe this is a structural governance problem and a very practical step is adding one additional column to published purchase order reports identifying the relevant contract reference or contract award notice. It sounds small but it would be transformative. It would begin creating that golden thread from tender to contract award to payment because public money should be traceable from beginning to end. I will say this plainly: we cannot govern a system that we cannot see. I greatly appreciate anything the Minister can do in this regard. This is an opportunity to provide a greater level of transparency and I know the Minister is committed to that as well.
Absolutely. As I said, it is something I have asked my own officials to strengthen in the context of particular procurement processes to see what the outputs and outturns are and the transparency connected right through that. Part of delivering across that objective will be set out in a new national procurement strategy on how we can strengthen transparency and trust but also then improve competition and the integrity of competition within the market, ultimately, to provide better value for money. These are critical priorities of mine. I am happy to continue to work with the Deputy in this area.
14. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 will apply to wastewater projects irrespective of their scale or geographic location; if he will consider a programme-level designation for wastewater treatment infrastructure across the country rather than limiting fast-track status to individual large-scale projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40521/26]
Many towns and villages lack adequate wastewater treatment, with a significant number discharging raw sewage every day. The planning process is one aspect where long delays can occur in the delivery of wastewater treatment plants. Given the huge issues we have with water quality and our failure to comply with EU legislation, will the Minister consider a national designation for all wastewater treatment plants across the country, regardless of their size, under the Critical Infrastructure Bill?
I thank Deputy Cooney. Allowing the Government to designate certain projects or programmes as critical infrastructure is the core of the Critical Infrastructure Bill. By establishing a clear legal basis for prioritisation, the legislation will reduce ambiguity and ensure that critical projects and programmes receive focused and co-ordinated attention across Departments, regulators and agencies. It will address the unacceptable delays in our infrastructure approval processes by mandating whole-of-State co-operation and creating a fast-track pathway for critical projects and programmes without skipping any steps in the approval process or weakening safeguards. I have consistently stated in the Oireachtas that the designation process will not commence until after the Bill's enactment. However, I have also stressed the need for restraint in the designation process. If too many projects or programmes are afforded critical status, the impact of designation will consequently be limited. As I outlined in the Oireachtas, while the designation process has not commenced, when it does, my focus will be on recommending a small number of critical projects or programmes that will facilitate the acceleration of infrastructure across the energy, transport and water sectors, in particular, with a focus on infrastructure that will support housing. Section 1 of the Bill specifically identifies wastewater and waste management systems as being included within the definition of infrastructure. It is in that context that I will be assessing this when the Bill is enacted.
I recognise the importance of wastewater infrastructure but I also note that this Bill is just one of the vehicles being pushed to accelerate the delivery of infrastructure. In the report and action plan, 30 actions were identified to address the 12 barriers to infrastructure delivery and we are keen to advance all of them to ensure that we deliver the transformation and scale that is required.
I thank the Minister. I have to be direct with him. Wastewater treatment is named in the Government's own Bill as critical infrastructure. Logic dictates, then, that individual rural schemes should not have to make their own separate case for designation under the Bill. As far as I am concerned, they should all be included. The communities I represent in County Clare are not asking for special treatment. They are asking that a common application of this Bill will be applied to them. A programme-level designation for outstanding wastewater schemes, regardless of their scale, would cost the Exchequer nothing and could profoundly affect the delivery timeline. Can the Minister give this serious reconsideration? Will he reconsider that all these small schemes be included.
First of all, we have not yet commenced the process of assessing what will or will not be designated, and when we designate a particular project, when it can be fast-tracked. For example, if something is at a very early stage, it does not necessarily benefit from particular designation.
Second, we are prioritising water and wastewater systems because they are critical to housing delivery in villages and towns and for economic development across the country. This is an enabler for ensuring that we reduce the time taken to build these in various parts of the country. However, there has not been a decision on a project-specific basis and on a regional basis except to say that the area the Deputy is speaking about is one of the areas we will be seeking to prioritise in the context of the Bill. We have yet to conclude that assessment, however.
I thank the Minister. Again, this question is not about Uisce Éireann’s capital programme. It is about whether the Minister will look at the current status of wastewater treatment as a national scandal, one that has huge negative consequences for the environment and all our communities, whether rural, coastal or urban. The Minister accepts that wastewater is critical infrastructure. All that remains is for him to determine whether a large project in a city has more virtue than a smaller one in rural communities. I hope he will also give that consideration. It is about the Government using its own Bill to put the solution to this problem front and centre. It would be a significant statement of our commitment to finally take this problem seriously. If the Minister is not willing to give me a commitment to extend the programme-level designation to all wastewater projects regardless of scale or location today, maybe he would respond to me within three months with an update.
To be factual about it, we have not decided designation on any project in any area up to now. We are going to conclude the legislation, which passed this House and will pass in the Seanad in June. I am familiar with parts of the Deputy's county and indeed across the west of Ireland, the midlands and elsewhere, where people have been waiting on wastewater treatment plants for far too long. There is huge environmental damage in some of the rivers and the water systems which is connected to the delays that we are seeing where that infrastructure has not been built. We will work with Uisce Éireann around designation when we conclude the Bill but also on other barriers to delivery. The legislative path is one path that will improve speed but there are other areas where we have to drive reform. The added capital allocation to Uisce Éireann should significantly improve the throughput and the scale of what is delivered but we will work with the Deputy constructively on that.
16. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation in respect of his responsibility for infrastructure delivery, his plans to ensure that all other Government Departments will receive enough funding for essential infrastructure projects and services in the next budget and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40612/26]
69. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation in respect of his responsibility for infrastructure delivery, his plans to ensure that planned investments in necessary infrastructure projects and services by other Departments will not be reversed or cancelled due to newly proposed overspending rules by his Department and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40613/26]
The Minister has indicated that a levy of more than €446 million will be imposed on Departments to pay for an overspend in the Department of Education and Youth yet he suggests that this will not really have any impact because we are going to spend more next year anyway. In reality, will it not mean that there will be less money available than was projected for multiple Departments to undertake key infrastructure or projects or to provide services?
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 69 together. We agreed a medium-term fiscal and structural plan in December of last year that provides for significant uplifts and expenditure over the coming years with gross voted spending to reach €147.3 billion by 2030. The key element of the expenditure strategy underpinning the gross voted expenditure ceilings included in the plan was the prioritisation of capital with ceilings agreed as part of the NDP plan review and an additional increase in capital from 2028 onwards. Over €65 billion in capital investment has been delivered in the past five years out to 2025 and €19.1 billion was allocated for capital investment in budget 2026, which was an increase of €2.6 billion or nearly 16% over 2025. The capital ceiling will grow by a further €1.2 billion or 6.3% in 2027 to €20.3 billion. In total, the Government has committed €275 billion under the NDP from 2026 to 2035. We have published sectoral investment plans to deliver infrastructure at scale year after year. This can be achieved. This will strengthen co-ordination and build capacity in the construction sector.
The significant investment made by Government to deliver housing and fundamental infrastructure has been complemented by a considered programme of reform to address challenges within the infrastructure delivery ecosystem. The Government has already made significant efforts to orient itself towards infrastructure co-ordination delivery. The NDP review and sectoral investment plans are providing multi-annual funding certainty and a strong pipeline of projects. My Department has been tasked with identifying and addressing the most significant barriers to delivery. The infrastructure division in my Department has taken a stronger oversight and monitoring role for this action plan with all commitments by quarter 1 of 2026 fully delivered. This is a proactive role that allows my own Department to take action where barriers arise in the delivery of critical infrastructure programmes. We have published and brought the Critical Infrastructure Bill through the Dáil and it is now progressing in the Seanad. I can come back when I have further time but the figure of €446 million is all on current expenditure. We have completely protected capital expenditure lines so capital expenditure lines are not affected by the efficiency levy.
I welcome the students and teachers from Tonragee National School all the way from Achill in County Mayo. We hope they enjoy their day in the Dáil. They are here with the Minister of State, Deputy Alan Dillon.
Is there enough then to deliver the critical infrastructure that we know we need? I will give one example where I cannot understand frankly why the money was not made available, namely, the case of The Complex. We need arts infrastructure. We had the Government bringing in stuff yesterday about drinking on the streets because we need greater vibrancy in our city centres and I agree that we do, so how could the Government let The Complex close down in Dublin's north inner city when all they were looking for was €6 million and they offered a win-win? It said that rather than sell it to a developer that was going to get rid of an art space, if the Government gave it €6 million on top of the €4 million it already had, we could retain a multidisciplinary art space and build social and affordable housing on top of it, so we would get a win-win. We would get a community, arts and cultural space, which we badly need, rather than allow it to be lost, and we would get social and affordable housing in the city centre for €6 million. Instead despite the promises of the Minister's predecessor to that community, it has been allowed to close down. By the way, it is not yet over, so it is something the Minister could reconsider.
I welcome all the people from Achill who are here and I hope they have a very good day. Both my parents from County Mayo so I always welcome everyone from that great county. We will not talk about the All-Ireland but we are still waiting-----
Not with Westmeath.
We will see how it gets on at the weekend. I understand the issue around the arts complex. There was extensive engagement between Dublin City Council, the Arts Council and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport. We have significantly increased the capital allocation to the Department in recent years, which has to manage its overall location in that context. Part of that relates to the extent to which the local authority would prioritise it, for example, in the engagement with those who run The Complex in particular. If the Deputy looks at our record, uplift of capital across the arts community has significantly increased in recent years and overall funding for arts has significantly increased in recent years. It is a decision of those who are prioritising within the Department, the Arts Council and Dublin City Council, which, obviously, has an important interface in running services.
This is the game of pass the parcel that led to The Complex being closed down. If one goes to the Department, it says that it would love to leave The Complex open but it cannot buy properties, which is something I did not know, so what the Minister just said is complete nonsense. The Department is not allowed to buy properties. Dublin City Council said basically it did not have the money for it. The Minister is the Minister for infrastructure. We need housing, social and affordable housing in particular, and we need arts and cultural spaces, which are being closed down left, right and centre in the city centre. That building has not been sold. Apparently, the sale has not gone through so it is not over yet. That space could be saved and we could get a site for social and affordable housing for the small figure of €6 million. I suggest that the Minister, as Minister with responsibility for infrastructure, cracks the whip and says that it is madness to let this thing go and that we should save that site and save The Complex for all the artists and the local community and to deliver social and affordable housing on the site.
I provide an overall allocation to different Departments, which have to prioritise within that, and that applies to the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport-----
It cannot buy stuff.
Similarly, Dublin City Council has a very significant annual budget and has to prioritise across its objectives in any given year. The overall increase in capital expenditure and day-to-day expenditure for arts has significantly increased in recent years, and rightly so. I support the objective to continue to improve that in the years ahead but it is an issue between Dublin City Council and the Department in the context of that particular proposal. We provide the overall funding. We have provided multi-annual certainty to the Department and it concerns how it prioritises that in the context of what is available.
