Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
369. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an overview of the progress made to date under National Strategic Outcome (NSO) 3 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030; the additional funding allocated under this NSO following the review of the NDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70475/25]
View answerAs Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation, I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level.
In the 2021 NDP review, the Government originally committed €165 billion in capital investment for the period 2021-30, and subsequently agreed to additional funding of €2.25 billion in March 2024 for 2024-2026.
The revised National Development Plan, published in July, set out €275.4 billion in public capital investment to 2035 – the largest and most significant capital injection in our economy in the history of the State. Following the agreement of the revised NDP in July 2025, gross capital expenditure ceilings for all sectors have now been set out to 2030.
While Government has prioritised investment towards the critical growth-enabling sectors of housing, energy, water and transport all Departments are now tasked with developing sectoral plans for the upcoming 5 years out to 2030, which will detail priority projects to be progressed. Departments must ensure that the plans are affordable within the gross capital expenditure ceilings as agreed by Government. These plans will be published in the coming weeks.
National Strategic Outcome (NSO) 3 relates to strengthening rural economies and communities. Under the 2025 NDP review, the Government allocated €1.329 billion to the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
A range of programmes and projects have already been delivered under NSO 3 since the 2021 NDP review, including for example:
• Delivery of the National Broadband Plan which includes over 564,000 premises and over 1.1 million people. The NBP is set to be on track for completion by the end of 2026.
• Approval of over 800 projects under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.
• Providing for the maintenance of over 9,500 kilometres and the strengthening of over 5,500 kilometres of local roads.
The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht is due to publish their Sectoral Investment Plan in the coming weeks and will detail priority projects.
A full list of projects and programmes for each of the ten National Strategic Outcomes can be found in the regular publications by my Department on the gov.ie site:
• The capital investment tracker provides a composite update on the progress of all major investments with an estimated cost of greater than €20 million;
• 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 health facilities; and
• The Project Ireland 2040 Annual and Regional Reports highlight achievements and give a detailed overview of the public investments that have been made throughout the country, including detail from across Government on the national strategic objectives. The forthcoming Project Ireland 2024 Annual and Regional Reports will provide full and up to date detail on delivery of the National Strategic Outcomes.
