Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
52. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the progress made to date under National Strategic Outcome (NSO) 6 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. [70489/25]
View answerAs Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, 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 (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case. National Strategic Outcome (NSO) 6 deals with the delivery of high quality international connectivity.
The relevant sectoral strategies under NSO 6 include the Department of Transport's NDP Sectoral Investment Plan, the National Aviation Policy, the National Ports Policy, and the Telecommunications chapter of the National Marine Planning Framework, which relates to international telecommunications connectivity. These strategies play a critical role in identifying the goals and priorities for the sector with regard to capital investment.
In terms of our airports, a range of investments are planned and underway:
• Improving access to Dublin airport, our key international gateway, through strengthened public transport access and improved connections from the road network from the west and north will be critical to facilitating the further growth of the airport to underpin our competitiveness. As part of the NDP Review 2025, €2 billion in funding from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund was provided for low-carbon transportation, such as MetoLink. As well as providing access to Dublin Airport, MetroLink will directly support the delivery of approximately 31,700 additional housing units along the corridor to support a population growth of close to 90,000 people.
• The Programme for Government has also committed to continue to invest in the Regional Airports Programme and to develop a new Regional Airports Programme 2026-2030.
• The Shannon Airport Group continues to implement its investment plan, including upgrades to airport infrastructure including new R&D engineering/manufacturing units. Clare County Council is also advancing plans for future investment in the Shannon Airport Access road.
In relation to ports:
• The Port of Cork’s Ringaskiddy Redevelopment CCT 2 project is underway which will see redevelopment and the extension of existing CCT 1 facility to accommodate larger seas vessels and increase port capacity.
• The Shannon Foynes Port Company is progressing with capacity extensions at Shannon Foynes Port, further strengthening freight and trade connectivity.
• Dublin Port is actively implementing its Masterplan 2040, ensuring sustainable growth and long-term capacity planning.
Further details of projects and programmes being delivered under NSO 6 can be found in the latest capital investment tracker, which 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 provides details on specific projects by county and contains smaller investments. Search facilities also allow citizens to view projects in their regional area, by city, by county or by eircode.
The Project Ireland 2040 Capital Investment Tracker and myProjectIreland interactive map are available at gov.ie/2040.
