Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 December 2025
184. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation how he intends to ensure that the revised National Development Plan and Budget 2026 implementation delivers visible improvements in core public services such as housing, health, transport and education in the Midlands region, particularly Longford and Westmeath. [72625/25]
View answer185. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide a breakdown, by county, of additional capital funding arising from Budget 2026, with specific figures for Longford and Westmeath, and the projected impact on regional employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72626/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 185 together.
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 each Minister to assign funding as appropriate at programme and subhead level for their Departments and the agencies under their remit, accounting for the demands for services in different areas and regions and having regard to demographics and other relevant factors. Within this process, both current and capital expenditure are allocated on a Departmental basis and not a geographic basis.
More broadly, the achievement of balanced regional development is a key priority of this Government and is at the heart of Project Ireland 2040, which includes the National Planning Framework (NPF), which sets out the overarching spatial strategy for the next twenty years, along with the National Development Plan.
Since Project Ireland 2040 was first launched in 2018, the Government has overseen the delivery of many impactful NDP projects across the country, including in Longford and Westmeath – for example:
• a new STEM building in the Athlone Campus of the Technological University of the Shannon;
• the completion of a 650 pupil post-primary school, Mean Scoil an Chlochaie in Kilbeggan; and
• a new library in Edgeworthstown;
• 170 social housing units in Lissywollen, Athlone; and
• A flood relief scheme protecting 550 homes in Athlone.
The NDP Review 2025 was published on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, in line with the Programme for Government commitment. The Plan committed €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.
Arising from this, €19.1 billion in Exchequer capital investment will be provided in 2026. The NDP significantly increases capital investment across the country, which will generate substantial employment demand in the construction sector. Delivering this enhanced pipeline of infrastructure will require additional workforce capacity, creating opportunities for skilled employment in every part of the country.
Departments have published sectoral investment plans setting out the capital projects to be prioritised from 2026 to 2030. These plans provide visibility of the delivery pipeline, giving construction firms the certainty they need to invest in hiring, training, and scaling their operations. This multi-year approach is designed to support industry planning and ensure that regional capacity can grow in line with demand.
In developing these sectoral plans, departments were required to demonstrate how their proposed investments align with the objectives of the National Planning Framework (NPF). This ensures that increased capital spending supports balanced regional development.
These sectoral plans are available on each Departmental website and will provide the Deputy with further detail on a sectoral basis.
Furthermore, progress in achieving balanced regional development and detailing the delivery of the NDP is monitored through regular updates of the Project Ireland 2040 capital investment tracker and MyProjectIreland interactive map viewer. The capital investment tracker 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, healthcare facilities and social housing projects. Search facilities allow users to view projects in their regional area, by city, by county or by Eircode.
In addition, my Department also publishes the Project Ireland 2040 Annual Report and Regional Reports highlighting achievements and giving a detailed overview of the public investments that have been made throughout the country. These will provide the Deputy with further detail on delivery under the NDP to date. These and other Project Ireland 2040 related documents can be found at: www.gov.ie/2040
