Written Answers Nos. 61-73
61. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Finance in the context of the national disability and inclusion strategy, the work being done to make changes to the disabled drivers and passengers scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30068/24]
View answerThe Deputy should note that my Department and I share concerns that the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme (DDS) is no longer fit-for-purpose and believe it should be replaced with a needs-based, grant-led approach for necessary vehicle adaptations that could serve to improve the functional mobility of the individual.
However, this is very much a matter for Government as whilst my Department has oversight of the DDS, I do not have responsibility for disability policy.
As the Deputy is aware the National Disability & Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) Transport Working Group recommended that the DDS be replaced with a modern, fit-for-purpose vehicular adaptation scheme. This is in line with the general view that we need to move away from a medical criteria-based approach to a needs-based approach.
Under the aegis of the Department of Taoiseach officials from relevant Departments and agencies are meeting to discuss the issues arising from the NDIS report including how the DDS can be replaced.
The Department of Finance submitted a note to the group with my predecessor's approval in mid-January 2024. This note outlines a proposal for a replacement scheme for the DDS which would be a needs-based, grant-led approach for necessary vehicle adaptations. Further consideration is being given to this matter through the establishment of sub-group of the Department of Taoiseach working group. This sub-group will start its work shortly and is expected to report in the Autumn.
62. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance the estimated increase to the Exchequer from USC contributions arising from applying minimum wage legislation to all craft apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30019/24]
View answerI am advised by Revenue that they do not have information specifying the number of craft apprentices or their income levels. As such, I am advised that it is not possible for Revenue to calculate the revenue effects sought by the Deputy.
63. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Finance if he will permit the fresh start principle to be applied to the help-to-buy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30112/24]
View answerSection 477C of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA) requires that applicants for the Help to Buy (HTB) scheme must be first-time purchasers, which is defined as:
" 'first-time purchaser' means an individual who, at the time of a claim under subsection (3) has not, either individually or jointly with any other person, previously purchased or previously built, directly or indirectly, on his or her own behalf a dwelling;"
There are no exceptions to the HTB definition of first time purchaser. This includes circumstances where there is more than one person involved in the purchase or building of a new home. The intention behind this is to target the tax relief on those who have not had the opportunity to build up equity in another property which could be used to purchase the second or subsequent property and those who could not have availed of HTB relief previously.
The "fresh start" principle set out in Section 10 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021, and which relates to the criteria for qualifying for affordable housing, does not apply to HTB. I have no plans at present to extend HTB to make provision for those who might qualify under that principle.
64. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that officials in his Department had requested a copy of the Housing Commission report; the date the officials made this request; and the date they received the report. [30211/24]
View answerOfficials in my Department are in constant communication with officials in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This engagement happens formally, through various groups such as the Housing for All Secretary General Delivery Group and the Housing for All Investment Group, as well as regular communication on an informal basis.
The Report of the Housing Commission is based on two years of deliberations on Ireland’s housing system and makes important recommendations to help shape long-term policy.
Given the importance of this report, my officials verbally requested to see this document as soon as it was available. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage duly provided this report to my Department on Tuesday 21 May 2024.
65. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the totality of the funds requested and drawn down by his Department from EU sources in respect of covid-19 in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form (details). [30222/24]
View answerFollowing a loan request by the then Minister for Finance on behalf of the Government, Ireland received a total of €2.492 billion on 30 March 2021 under the SURE EU programme.
SURE, which stands for Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency, was a specific financial instrument created by the European Union to protect jobs and workers’ incomes in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The European Commission provided low cost loans to nineteen Member States to support sudden increases in public expenditure for the preservation of employment, thereby protecting citizens and mitigating the severely negative socio-economic consequences of the Covid pandemic.
The amount of the Irish application was based on costs already expended by the Government as part of the Covid-19 Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS), which satisfied the conditions for the SURE programme.
The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme provided wage bill subsidies to support firm viability and preserve relationships between employers and employees. When the scheme ended in August 2020, nearly 70,000 employers and over 600,000 employees had been supported.
As the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) has already ended by the time of disbursement of the SURE loan to Ireland, Ireland did not have any ongoing reporting requirement to the European Commission on the implementation of this planned public expenditure.
Ireland was able to recoup the substantial majority of the expenditure already accrued under the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) from the SURE programme. The cumulative value of payments made to employers under the TWESS was €2.693 billion, and the total cash paid in to the Irish Exchequer in 2021 from the SURE is €2. 492 billion.
SURE provided Ireland with a diversified source of funding with the benefits of the EU’s strong Triple A credit rating (AAA) and low borrowing costs. As of October 2023, Ireland's SURE lending has a weighted average life of 12.1 years and a European Commission fixed interest rate of 0.22%.
Table 1 - Department of Finance - Covid-19 Related EU Funds received
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
|
€000m |
€000m |
€000m |
€000m |
€000m |
|
|
EU SURE scheme |
0 |
2,492 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
66. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance if he will amend the flat-rate farmer’s refund order section 5.3 outdoor water trough systems to include plastic troughs which are not allowable under the order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30253/24]
View answerFrom my predecessor’s reply of 11 June 2024 to the Deputy’s previous question (25508/24) about the rules governing the reclaim by a farmer of VAT incurred on plastic water troughs, the Deputy will understand that the VAT treatment of goods and services is subject to EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply.
The Value-Added Tax (Refund of Tax)(Flat-rate Farmers) Order 2012 (S.I. No. 201/2012) is the Irish legislation which provides for limited situations in which flat-rate farmers are specifically permitted to claim a refund of the VAT incurred by them on particular inputs. Ireland’s Refund Order is permitted under EU law subject to certain strict conditions, including that its scope is not extended. This means that it would not be compatible with EU law to alter the Order so as to provide for VAT refunds on items that are not currently within the Order’s scope.
The Deputy will be aware from the previous reply that in June 2024, Revenue published detailed guidance – in the form of a Tax and Duty Manual (TDM) – about the Refund Order. I understand from Revenue that paragraph 5.3 of their guidance document explains that Outdoor Water Trough Systems are refundable under the Order. The guidance outlines the purpose of these systems and their structural characteristics which bring them within the meaning of a “farm building or structure” so that they qualify for a refund under the Order. The guidance document indicates that plastic troughs are not allowable under the Order. This is because typically they are not regarded as a building or structure.
As explained in my predecessor’s response, the TDM also explains that VAT may be refunded in circumstances where goods, which themselves are outside the scope of the Refund Order, are installed into a farm building or structure in such a way that they become a fixture. While it is not likely that an installed plastic drinking trough would constitute a fixture within the meaning of VAT law, nonetheless, each claim is assessed on its merits.
67. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance the amount of taxes taken from fuel tax, VAT excise and carbon tax associated with petrol, diesel and home heating in 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30271/24]
View answerIreland’s taxation of fuel and electricity is governed by European Union law as set out in Directive 2003/96/EC, commonly known as the Energy Tax Directive (ETD). Four separate legislative frameworks provide for the application of excises to fuel and electricity. Liquid fuels and gas used as propellants are chargeable to Mineral Oil Tax (MOT). Natural gas used for all non-propellant purposes, including heating, is subject to Natural Gas Carbon Tax (NGCT). Solid fuels, including coal, peat and peat products, are subject to Solid Fuel Carbon Tax (SFCT) and electricity is subject to Electricity Tax.
Mineral Oil Tax comprises a non-carbon component (NCC) and a carbon component (CC), also referred to as carbon tax. Natural Gas Carbon Tax and Solid Fuel Carbon Tax are “pure” carbon taxes in that they are comprised entirely of a carbon component. Electricity Tax has no carbon component. I am advised by Revenue that the relevant excise duty rates on fuel and electricity are published on the Revenue website at: www.revenue.ie/en/tax-professionals/tdm/excise/excise-duty-rates/energy-excise-duty-rates.pdf
Liquid fuels, such as kerosene, liquified petroleum gas and Marked Gas Oil, which are used for non-propellant purposes qualify for a reduced rate of MOT. I am advised by Revenue that MOT receipts from these fuels are not broken down into different categories of non-propellant uses. Therefore, it is not possible to identify the portion of MOT attributable to these fuels used for home heating. Similarly, NGCT and SFCT returns do not include quantities of taxable supplies specifically for home heating. As electricity supplied for household use is exempted from Electricity Tax, any electricity used for home heating is not subject to excise.
I am advised by Revenue that the net amount for 2023 and to the end of May 2024 of Excise taxes received on Petrol, Diesel, Marked Gas Oil, Kerosene, Natural Gas, and Solid Fuels is provided in the table below.
I am also advised by Revenue that traders are not required to identify the VAT yield generated from the supply of specific goods and services on their VAT returns. Therefore, it is not possible to provide the actual VAT receipts obtained on these supplies to non-taxable persons. However, using Revenue and third-party data, a tentative estimate of the VAT generated on these supplies is provided.
|
2023 |
2024 (To end May 2024) ** |
|||||
|
Fuel Type |
NCC €m |
CC €m |
VAT €m |
NCC €m |
CC €m |
VAT €m |
|
Petrol |
412.2 |
107.9 |
318 |
203.8 |
50.2 |
142 |
|
Diesel |
1,149.5 |
446.5 |
370 |
432.5 |
198.6 |
159 |
|
Marked Gas Oil * |
4.4 |
121.6 |
56 |
4.5 |
57.1 |
24 |
|
Kerosene * |
- |
104.9 |
75 |
- |
65.2 |
39 |
|
Natural Gas * |
- |
107.2 |
158 |
- |
71.7 |
85 |
|
LPG * |
- |
24.9 |
10 |
- |
9.8 |
4 |
|
Solid Fuel * |
- |
19.2 |
77 |
- |
13.7 |
35 |
* The total NCC and CC component of these fuels is provided above, as it is not possible to distinguish between their use for home heating or another use.
** The 2024 figures are provisional and subject to future revision.
68. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Finance the costs to the Exchequer of the bike-to-work scheme and the number of people that have availed of it since 2020, in tabular form. [30306/24]
View answerSection 118(5G) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA) provides for the Cycle to Work scheme. This scheme was introduced in 2009 and offers an exemption from benefit-in-kind (BIK) where an employer purchases a bicycle and/or associated safety equipment for one of their employees (or directors) to use, in whole or in part, to travel to work. Associated safety equipment may include items such as helmets, lights, bells, mirrors and locks.
One of three thresholds applies to the amount of exempted expenditure. The applicable threshold depends on the type of bicycle purchased and includes related safety equipment. Since 1 January 2023, the Cycle to Work scheme applies to the first:
• €3,000 of expenditure in relation to a cargo or e-cargo bike;
• €1,500 of expenditure in relation to a pedelec or e-bike; or
• €1,250 of expenditure in relation to any other type of bike.
Under section 118B TCA, the employer and employee may also enter into a Revenue-approved salary sacrifice arrangement under which the employee agrees to sacrifice part of his or her salary in exchange for a bicycle and/or related safety equipment.
The scheme operates on a self-administration basis. Relief is automatically available provided the employer is satisfied that the conditions of their particular scheme meet the requirements of the legislation. There is no notification procedure for employers involved. This approach was taken with the deliberate intention of keeping the scheme simple and reducing administration on the part of employers. Accordingly, there are no records available on the number of people availing of the scheme or the cost of the scheme.
The Budget 2022 Tax Expenditure Report prepared by my Department estimated the cost for 2020 at €4.5 million and notes that this figure is an estimate as separate returns are not required under the scheme. This estimate took account of the changes made to the scheme by Section 9 of the Financial Provision (Covid-19)(No. 2) Act 2020. This increased the allowable expenditure from €1,000 to €1,500 in respect of e-bikes and €1,250 in respect of bicycles and allowed the purchase of a new bicycle every 4 years instead of 5. The estimated costs for 2021 and 2022 were €5.5 million, respectively, with the full year impact of the changes.
|
Relevant Year |
Estimated number of claims |
Estimated revenue foregone (€m) |
|
2020 |
22,000 |
4.5 |
|
2021 |
25,000 |
5.5 |
|
2022 |
25,000 |
5.5 |
The Tax Expenditure Report for Budget 2025, which will be published later this year, will include estimates for 2023. An additional cost is anticipated on foot of an extension of the exemption limit of up to €3,000 in respect of cargo bikes which was introduced in Finance Act 2022. The additional cost will depend on uptake and the marginal rate of tax being paid by the employee, however, it is not expected that the cost will be significant.
69. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Finance the number and percentage of people with disabilities employed across his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department in each of the years 2020 to 2023; the number and percentage of people with disabilities employed across his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department in the corresponding timeframe that had full-time contracts; and the number and percentage of people with disabilities employed in his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 that had part-time contracts, in tabular form. [30955/24]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the number and percentage of staff in my Department who have declared a disability is set out in the table below.
My Department satisfied the 3% target of employing staff with disabilities and is aware of the increase in the targets to 6% to be achieved by 2025. My Department is committed to achieving this revised target. The Disability Census Form provided to all new entrants in my Department is voluntary and a self-declaration. An anonymous survey is carried out each year for staff to declare if they have a disability and the findings are then provided to the National Disability Authority (NDA). As the information on whether or not the roles held are full time or part time is not required for the Census, this information is not available.
|
Year |
Number of staff who have declared a disability |
% of staff who have declared a disability |
|
2020 |
14 |
4.38 |
|
2021 |
16 |
4.83 |
|
2022 |
18 |
5.57 |
|
2023 |
20 |
5.68 |
The bodies under the aegis of my Department have provided the information below.
The Central Bank of Ireland is not included in the Department of Finance’s annual return to the NDA in respect of the employment of persons with disabilities in the public sector, and the corresponding employment target under Part 5 of the Disability Act. Therefore, the Bank does not complete the corresponding annual return to the NDA. However, the Bank is committed to mirroring this employment target as a means of reflecting the diverse society it serves and providing meaningful employment in an inclusive work environment.
The Bank’s disability representation data is based on a survey which is voluntary and anonymous to complete. All staff members are invited to complete the survey and anonymously identify as having a disability, neurodivergence or chronic medical condition, as well as provide feedback regarding their experience of same in the workplace. Its representation figure has increased since 2020 as the Bank purposefully commits to providing a workplace of fair opportunities and supports. Notably, in 2023 the Bank appointed a Disability Inclusion Partner, with an associated action plan to drive progress in the area of Disability and Neurodiversity representation and inclusion. Regarding staff who declare a disability, the Bank does not keep data on the number engaged as part time or full time:
|
Year |
Number of staff who have declared a disability |
% of staff who have declared a disability |
|
2020 |
28 |
1.4 |
|
2021 |
38 |
1.9 |
|
2022 |
56 |
2.8 |
|
2023 |
81 |
3.9 |
The Central Bank assigns staff to the Investor Compensation Company DAC.
The Credit Review Office has a small number of staff, none of whom have declared a disability.
As staff surveys are anonymous, the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman does not collect data on the number of staff engaged on a full-time or part-time contract:
|
Year |
Number of staff who have declared a disability |
% of staff who have declared a disability |
|
2020 |
7 |
8.2 |
|
2021 |
4 |
4.8 |
|
2022 |
12 |
14.1 |
|
2023 |
10 |
12 |
The Secretariat of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council comprises six full-time staff, none of whom have declared a disability.
The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) assigns staff to the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA), Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) and the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI). Data is aggregated in order to comply with data minimisation requirements under relevant data protection legislation and while disability data is vital to identify needs and promote inclusion, it is also deemed to be special category personal data and therefore safeguarded accordingly. The NTMA return data to the NDA on an annual basis in line with part five of the Disability Act 2005 which includes the definition of disability for the purpose of reporting:
|
Year |
Number of staff who have declared a disability |
% of staff who have declared a disability |
|
2020 |
34 |
4.28 |
|
2021 |
33 |
4.2 |
|
2022 |
28 |
3.6 |
|
2023 |
40 |
4.9 |
The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General does not have people with a disability employed under part-time contracts:
|
Year |
Number of staff who have declared a disability |
% of staff who have declared a disability |
|
2020 |
14 |
7.7 |
|
2021 |
15 |
8.4 |
|
2022 |
13 |
6.4 |
|
2023 |
13 |
7 |
The Office of the Revenue Commissioners does not collect data on the number of staff engaged on a part-time contract:
|
Year |
Number of staff who have declared a disability |
% of staff who have declared a disability |
|
2020 |
286 |
4.10 |
|
2021 |
280 |
4.13 |
|
2022 |
266 |
3.88 |
|
2023 |
467 |
6.64 |
Employees of the Tax Appeals Commission that have declared a disability are employed on a full-time basis. It should be noted that the data provided includes temporary staff:
|
Year |
Number of staff who have declared a disability |
% of staff who have declared a disability |
|
2020 |
1 |
2.7 |
|
2021 |
2 |
6.9 |
|
2022 |
2 |
5.9 |
|
2023 |
2 |
6.0 |
70. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of requests the OPW have received seeking approval for promotional filming to be carried out at OPW heritage sites in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024; and of the requests received the number that were granted or refused per year, in tabular form. [30052/24]
View answerThe mandate of the Office of Public Works is manage the State property portfolio under its remit, flood risk management and maintenance, presentation and providing access to the State's portfolio of historic properties and national monuments. This mandate includes maintenance and presentation of Ireland's most iconic properties including Ireland's two World Heritage sites, 800 National Monuments and over 2,000 acres of parklands and gardens. OPW manages access through tours, events, community use, filming and through partnership arrangements with Fáilte Ireland. Promotion of sites to showcase what Ireland has to offer, in terms of tourism at a national and international level, is managed in partnership with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. OPW Heritage Services defines promotional filming as heritage sites being actively promoted to visit or filming of the site delving into the rich history and description of the site as the primary focus.
The Office of Public Works is currently working on compiling the information requested and undertake to contact the Deputy directly within 10 working days.
71. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number and percentage of people with disabilities employed across his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department in each of the years 2020 to 2023; the number and percentage of people with disabilities employed across his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department in the corresponding timeframe that had full-time contracts; and the number and percentage of people with disabilities employed in his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 that had part-time contracts, in tabular form. [30108/24]
View answerDifferent bodies take different approaches to gathering the information sought by the Deputy. In many organisations disability surveys are anonymous, so it is not possible to say what type of contract staff are on. It is not mandatory for staff to disclose if they have a disability. The material below sets out the information that is available.
|
Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform |
The number and percentage of people with disabilities employed across his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department in each of the years 2020 to 2023 |
|
2020 |
19 (2.74%) |
|
2021 |
32 (4.7%) |
|
2022 |
40 (5.7%) |
|
2023 |
Not yet available. |
The fluctuation in % figures reflects changes in total headcount over the timeframe.
|
National Shared Services Office |
The number and percentage of people with disabilities employed across his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department in each of the years 2020 to 2023 |
|
2020 |
32 (3.95%) |
|
2021 |
34 (4.49%) |
|
2022 |
54 (6.53%) |
|
2023 |
Not yet available. |
|
Office of the Ombudsman |
The number and percentage of people with disabilities employed across his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department in each of the years 2020 to 2023 |
|
2020 |
13 (8.79%) |
|
2021 |
12 (8.05%) |
|
2022 |
15 (10.71%) |
|
2023 |
Not yet available. |
|
Office of the Regulator of the National Lottery |
The number and percentage of people with disabilities employed across his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department in each of the years 2020 to 2023 |
|
2020 |
Nil |
|
2021 |
Nil |
|
2022 |
Nil |
|
2023 |
Nil |
|
Public Appointments Service |
The number and percentage of people with disabilities employed across his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department in each of the years 2020 to 2023 |
|
2020 |
14 (6.8%) |
|
2021 |
16 (7.1%) |
|
2022 |
21 (7.4%) |
|
2023 |
Not yet available. |
|
State Laboratory |
The number and percentage of people with disabilities employed across his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department in each of the years 2020 to 2023 |
|
2020 |
4 (3.9%) |
|
2021 |
4 (3.9%) |
|
2022 |
4 (3.9%) |
|
2023 |
Not yet available. |
|
Office of Public Works |
The number and percentage of people with disabilities employed across his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department in each of the years 2020 to 2023 |
|
2020 |
66 (3.1%) |
|
2021 |
69 (3.3%) |
|
2022 |
71 (3.3%) |
|
2023 |
Not yet available. |
72. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform how the Ireland 2040 aspiration for doubling the growth of Waterford has been operationalised in capital spending over the life of this Government; the amount of the €44 billion voted expenditure has been invested in Waterford and the NUTS 3 southeast region in quantum of money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30133/24]
View answerAs Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform 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, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan 2021-30 (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case. Expenditure is therefore allocated and monitored on a Departmental basis and not on a regional basis.
In 2024, over €13 billion will be 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 Government will continue to detail the delivery of the NDP at regular intervals into the future to allow for full transparency on the implementation of Project Ireland 2040. This will be 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 and giving a detailed overview of the public investments which have been made throughout the country.
The latest capital investment tracker, published in May, 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.
In addition, Regional Reports on the implementation of Project Ireland 2040 in the three Regional Assembly areas have been published for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. The reports set out the regional projects and programmes, which are being planned and delivered in the southeast region, as part of the public investment detailed in Project Ireland 2040. While the reports do not provide an exhaustive list of all public capital expenditure, they serve to highlight the diverse range of investments being made by the State under Project Ireland 2040 in the region. The 2023 Regional Reports are expected to be published in Q3.
The Project Ireland 2040 Regional Reports, capital investment tracker and myProjectIreland interactive map are all available on gov.ie/2040.
73. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the changes that have been implemented by his Department to establish strategic funding across the regions; how this process is managed and measured; to provide quantum details of such funding over the life of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30134/24]
View answerBalanced regional development is a key priority of this Government and is at the heart of Project Ireland 2040. We are continuing to deliver and improve infrastructure in all regions in areas such as transport, broadband connectivity, housing and energy. These investments in public infrastructure projects will in turn have a positive effect in delivering employment opportunities and further investment by the private sector.
As Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level. My Department therefore allocates expenditure on a departmental basis, not a geographic basis. 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.
The Government has committed €165 billion funding for capital investment, as set out in the NDP published in October 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.
In 2024, over €13 billion will be made available from the Exchequer for investment in public capital projects, which will provide more schools, homes, improve hospital facilities and other pieces of vital infrastructure. 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 Government is committed to increasing public awareness of the capital investment in Project Ireland 2040 in all regions through the capital projects and programmes tracker and the MyProjectIreland interactive map. In addition, a Project Ireland 2040 report on capital investment for the three regional assembly areas is published each year. The 2023 annual reports are expected to be published in Q3 2024 and will be available on gov.ie/2040. The reports detail the specific regional projects and programmes, which are being planned and delivered in each region as part of the public capital investment detailed in the NDP.
