My Department is responsible for the Infrastructure Guidelines, which replaced the Public Spending Code for capital appraisal since end 2023. These set the value for money requirements and guidance for evaluating, planning and managing Exchequer-funded capital projects. Management and delivery of investment projects and public services within allocation and the national frameworks, including the Infrastructure Guidelines, is a key responsibility of every Department, Accounting Officer and Minister.
Under the Infrastructure Guidelines, no specific project management or project governance framework methodology is mandated. However, as part of the appraisal process for projects under the Infrastructure Guidelines, Sponsoring Agents for the projects are asked to critically consider various aspects of a project, including appropriate governance arrangements, which are further developed as a project progresses through the approval gates and more information becomes available as it moves from the preliminary to final business case before the awarding of the contract.
To further ensure value for money, where a project is considered a major project, this project must also be reviewed by the Major Projects Advisory Group (MPAG) at Approval Gate 1, overseen by my Department, to allow for greater scrutiny of the various elements of the project, including governance arrangements, and ensure clarity regarding such projects.
Adherence to the Infrastructure Guidelines themselves is ultimately the responsibility of the Accounting Officer of the relevant funding department. It is a matter for each Accounting Officer to decide whether processes in place in his/her department/ office/body and associated agencies are appropriate to ensure compliance with the Infrastructural Guidelines, manage capital budgets overall and manage budgets at an individual project level.
