Written Answers Nos. 61-96
61. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation cad iad na céimeanna atá glactha ag a Roinn chun a chinntiú go bhfuil coinníollacha Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2021 á gcomhlíonadh maidir le córais dhigiteacha na seirbhísí poiblí ar líne a bheith á gcur ar fáil go dátheangach; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [27094/26]
View answerThe Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, through the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), is taking a range of steps to support compliance with the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 in relation to the availability of digital public services bilingually online.
OGCIO already provides and operates the technical platforms that enable the delivery of bilingual digital public services across key Government websites, including gov.ie, ireland.ie and citizensinformation.ie. These platforms are designed to support the publication of content in both Irish and English.
In the case of gov.ie, individual Departments and public bodies are content owners for their material. While OGCIO ensures that the technical environment is in place to support bilingual publication, responsibility for providing and maintaining Irish language versions of content rests with the relevant Departments and public bodies, in line with their statutory obligations under the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021.
In addition, OGCIO is working closely with the Department of Rural and Community Development as part of the Technical Working Group under the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services 2024-2030. This work is focused on enabling and expanding Irish language support across a broader range of digital public services.
The Department is also supporting Údarás na Gaeltachta in its work to progress the development of Irish language AI-enabled services, which have the potential to further enhance access to public services through Irish.
Looking ahead, OGCIO’s future digital platforms, systems and shared services will continue to be designed and developed to support the availability of Irish alongside English, helping to ensure that all users can access digital public services in their preferred official language and supporting ongoing compliance with the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021.
62. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation within the context of projected overspends from the Department of Education, the way in which he intends to limit the spending of other Government departments this financial year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27569/26]
View answerAs published in the Revised Estimates Volume for 2026 last December, the total allocation for the Department of Education and Youth this year is €13.5 billion, comprising €11.8 billion in current and €1.7 billion in capital funding. Compared to the 2025 REV allocation of €12.2 billion the increased funding in 2026 represents a 10% uplift, demonstrating Governments commitment to supporting the continued delivery of high-quality education and youth services. Substantial investment has been provided to the Department of Education and Youth in recent years. Between 2021 and 2025, expenditure has increased by €3.5 billion or 37% from €9.3 billion to €12.7 billion in 2025.
My Department actively monitors spending developments throughout the year and is in ongoing engagement with all other Departments as part of this to identify any spending risks and mitigations.
Regarding the Department of Education and Youth, no government decision has been taken in relation to any additional funding or the application of a levy to other departments at this time. Government discussions are ongoing. Should a decision be taken to provide additional funding to the Department of Education further detail regarding this will be provided at that time and by way of presentation in a Revised Estimate for Education.
63. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update regarding investment in critical infrastructure in the west of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27085/26]
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.
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. Furthermore, while the achievement of balanced regional development is a key priority of this Government and is at the heart of the National Planning Framework (NPF) which sets out the overarching spatial strategy for the next twenty years, along with the National Development Plan, expenditure is allocated by sector. Each Minister is responsible for deciding on the priority programmes and projects that will be delivered under their remit within the NDP and for setting out the timelines for delivery.
The Programme for Government set out the clear prioritisation for the NDP Review to ensure that investment can be maximised in the coming five years for strategic infrastructure. This includes the key energy, water and transport networks on which all future development relies. This is critical to allow Government to meet the additional 300,000 homes target and to support competitiveness. These sectors, electricity, water and transport, were further defined as critical infrastructure in the Accelerating Infrastructure Actions Report published last December.
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. These sectoral plans are available on each Departmental webpage on the gov.ie website and will provide the Deputy with further detail on a sectoral basis and with relevance to Kildare.
Since Project Ireland 2040 was first launched in 2018, the Government has overseen the delivery of many impactful NDP projects across the country, including critical infrastructure in the West of Ireland – for example Enterprise Centres in Boyle and Tulsk in Roscommon and in Belmullet and Swinford in Mayo, the N59 Moycullen Bypass and the Salmon Weir Bridge in Galway and the Killaloe Bypass in Clare, and heritage and tourism projects in Portumna in Galway and Aghleam in Mayo.
The published sectoral plans include planned investment and critical infrastructure projects across the country, including a range of projects in the West of Ireland such as
• Uisce Eireann upgrades of water and wastewater treatment plans in Lough Mast and Claremorris in Mayo
• 35 social and 310 affordable new housing units in Crowne Square in Galway
• New transport infrastructure with Bus Connects Galway, the Galway City Ring Road and the N5 in Roscommon
• And sports and community facilities with the Renville Sports and Community Centre and the East Galway Sports Campus
These sectoral plans are available on each Departmental website and will provide the Deputy with further detail on a sectoral basis.
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 even further detail on delivery under the National Development Plan to date. These and other Project Ireland 2040 related documents can be found at www.gov.ie/2040
64. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the exterior works at Rathfarnham Castle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27345/26]
View answerRathfarnham Castle was built in 1583 and throughout its long and rich history, has been owned by Archbishop Adam Loftus (the founder of Trinity College), Speaker Conolly, and the Jesuit Order. The Castle is one of Ireland's oldest Elizabethan houses. For most of the 20th century the Castle was owned and occupied by the Jesuits. The Castle was declared a National Monument and purchased by the State in 1987. The OPW is responsible for the care and management of Rathfarnham Castle while the lands are managed by South Dublin County County Council.
Since 1987 the OPW has undertaken an extensive programme of conservation and restoration to secure the historic fabric of the building and also has undertaken works to improve access to the building with the installation of a lift and ramps.
The lime harling/wet dash finish on Rathfarnham Castle was last replaced in 2010, and it was anticipated at that time that the finish would last for longer than it has. The finish has deteriorated more quickly than expected, mainly due to issues with water ingress at parapet level and rising damp at ground level.
A detailed condition assessment of the external fabric is the next stage required to ensure the underlying causes of the lime failure are addressed prior to any new lime works taking place. Re-finishing the lime harling without first addressing this deterioration will not deliver value for money. Re-finishing the lime-harling necessities full scaffolding which will have impacts on visitors at certain stages of the works. Therefore it is important that the external works are carefully planned prior to site so as to maximise the use of the scaffolding and ensure it is in place for the minimum time possible. This conservation of Rathfarnham Castle exterior is a complex project that will encompass all of the external building fabric.
In the meantime, while this work is progressing, Rathfarnham Castle continues to welcome visitors daily throughout the year. The Castle's exhibition and events programme is ongoing, with a full Cultural Programme taking place this year.
65. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the Nenagh flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27346/26]
View answerThe Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme, the largest study of flood risk in the country, studied the flood risk for some two thirds of the population. The 2018 Flood Risk Management Plans were the output from the CFRAM study and identified some 150 additional flood relief schemes to protect at risk communities, including Nenagh.
Tipperary County Council is leading the delivery of this scheme. The scope and complexity of the flood risk in Nenagh, to protect some 60 properties, has evolved, and the Council in 2023 engaged with the Office of Public Works (OPW) to assist with the technical assessment required.
The OPW has recently completed preliminary site surveys and a Steering Group has been established to oversee delivery of the Nenagh Flood Relief Scheme.
Tender documents for the procurement of engineering and environmental consultants to progress the design of the flood relief scheme for Nenagh are almost complete. It is expected that the tender documents will issue by the end of Q2 2026. The appointment of consultants will inform the programme for the delivery of this flood relief scheme.
Since 2009, the OPW has approved some €2.6 million funding to Tipperary County Council for flood mitigation measures on some 60 projects, under the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This scheme remains available to the Council, to introduce interim flood mitigation measures in Nenagh, pending the completion of the main flood relief scheme for the town.
66. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the measures he has introduced to ensure value-for-money in respect of public capital projects. [26720/26]
View answerMy Department is responsible for the Infrastructure Guidelines, which set out the value for money guidelines and requirements for the evaluation, planning and management of public capital investment projects. The guidelines apply to all public bodies and all bodies in receipt of Exchequer capital funding. Government Departments and their Accounting Officers are responsible for ensuring that departments and agencies draw up their own sector specific procedures which align with these Guidelines.
Recent changes to the Infrastructure Guidelines, such as the removal of the External Assurance Process at the Preliminary Business Case stage and the requirement for Ministerial approval at Approval Gate 2, along with an increase in project thresholds for the Transport, Water and Energy sectors, were made with the intention of ensuring further value for money for capital projects by reducing the costs associated with delays to project delivery timelines.
Delays to Infrastructure project delivery increase project costs, reduce value for money, and hinder sustainable productivity and economic growth. The changes made to the Infrastructure Guidelines were one action in a series of reforms that are being undertaken, designed to reduce project delivery delays, as per the Accelerating Infrastructure Action Plan. Other changes include giving NDFA support to sectors for project development, simplifying and streamlining planning and regulatory consents and added coordination to ensure alignment between projects.
Robust oversight arrangements remain in place to ensure value for public money. With regard to major infrastructure projects, Ministers are required to bring a Memorandum for Government seeking consent to approve the proposal at both Preliminary Business Case (Approval in Principle) and Final Business Case Stage prior to the awarding of a contract (Approval Gate 1 and 3). Prior to seeking this consent, Ministers must be satisfied that the proposed project represents value for money.
For capital works that come under the Major Project threshold, the Approving Authority, which in most cases is the funding department, have ultimate responsibility, and it is the responsibility of the relevant Accounting Officer to ensure compliance with the relevant requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines. This is part of the overall Accounting Officer role in terms of accountability, delivery, regularity, propriety and ensuring value for money.
68. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update on an ongoing permanent solution to flooding at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26357/26]
View answerLough Funshinagh is a designated Special Area of Conservation Turlough, and has experienced increasingly severe flooding in recent years. These events, driven by extreme weather, have resulted in unprecedented water levels, flooding and flood risk to communities surrounding the Lough.
In response to the increasing frequency and severity of flooding, Roscommon County Council working in conjunction with the Office of Public Works (OPW), has progressed a three-pronged approach to manage both the immediate and long-term flood risk, while ensuring compliance with environmental and planning legislation. This includes the provision of Individual Property Protection for those properties at flood risk, and Trap-bags which are ready to be deployed at locations surrounding the Lough.
Due to the significant flooding that occurred in the spring of 2024, the development of an Interim Flood Relief Scheme became the primary focus in advance of the permanent scheme. Planning permission for this interim scheme was received from An Coimisiún Pleanála, in January 2025, with the scheme activated in April of last year. The interim scheme is regulating flows from the Lough through the Cross River, through overground pumping. Over the Winter 2025/2026 the pumping of some 2.3 billion litres of water, at a rate of up to 300 litres per second, has ensured the water levels at Lough Funshinagh have been effectively managed.
Roscommon County Council, with funding from the OPW, is currently progressing the permanent solution, the Lough Funshinagh Climate Adaptation Project. The work, over recent months, by the scheme’s consultants on environmental surveys and assessments to manage constraints on all potential options, in this special area of conservation, has further developed options that are now being consulted on. I met with the Council, elected members and the local community at Roscommon County Council on Monday of this week, where I facilitated a briefing on the nine potential options.
The nine options now being consulted on will be evaluated against the project’s dual objectives of managing the flood risk and minimising the impact on the environment in this area. The outcome of this public consultation event, that was held, in person, on 14 April at the Hodson Bay Hotel and remains open via Roscommon County Council's website, until 22 May, is to inform a preferred option for Roscommon County Council to submit a planning consent application An Coimisiún Pleanála later this year.
69. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the measures that have been taken, and are planned, in his Department to improve cost control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27677/26]
View answerEnsuring that public money is spent efficiently, and that taxpayers see clear outputs and outcomes from public spending, is a core priority for my Department and for Government.
My Department published the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework last year, which places particular emphasis on spending efficiency and value for money. That means linking resources to delivery, improving performance, and using evidence to guide decision-making.
Last October’s Budget reinforced this approach by putting a strong focus on the totality of expenditure and on clearly setting out the reforms and delivery commitments expected across Vote Groups. The Expenditure Report sets out key reform measures and sector-specific actions that are aimed at strengthening efficiency, improving delivery, and ensuring that increased investment translates into better services and outcomes for the public.
Responsibility for achieving value for money rests with all involved in overseeing the use of public funds. Accounting Officers in each Department have a clear responsibility to manage their allocations within the voted limits approved by the Dáil, to drive efficiencies, and to ensure that expenditure is supported by robust oversight and effective internal controls.
As part of my Department’s role supporting the appropriate use of public funds across government bodies, it establishes the governance frameworks, or rules, setting out the principles and procedures for how money should be spent. Examples of the governance frameworks which are in place include:
• The Code of Practice of the Governance of State Bodies,
• the Public Financial Procedures,
• the Infrastructure Guidelines,
• the Public Procurement Guidelines; and
• Arrangements for oversight of Digital/IT projects and initiatives.
Last year, I published Circular 18/2025 which emphasised that value for money must be pursued at all levels and throughout the policy and expenditure cycle: from proposal and appraisal, through implementation, to evaluation.
My Department also plays an active central role in supporting and enforcing this approach. We monitor expenditure performance and trends throughout the year and engage regularly with Departments on emerging pressures, drivers of spend and mitigations.
In addition, my Department is progressing work to strengthen the wider framework of financial management and accountability including the ongoing review of the Public Financial Procedures.
71. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the cost to date for the Government Digital Wallet project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27466/26]
View answerMy Department has invested a total of €3,709,252 to date in the national Government digital wallet initiative. The initiative is being delivered on a phased basis, with funding provided over multiple years to support its design, development, testing, and rollout.
The implementation leverages a suite of technical building blocks to ensure the efficient and effective use of public digital infrastructure, aligning with the EU’s ambition under the European Digital Identity Framework Regulation (eIDAS 2.0).
72. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to report on delivery today on the actions contained in the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26710/26]
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.
The Programme for Government set out the clear prioritisation for the NDP Review to ensure that investment can be maximised in the coming five years for strategic infrastructure. This includes the key energy, water and transport networks on which all future development relies. This is critical to allow Government to meet the additional 300,000 homes target and to support competitiveness. These sectors, electricity, water and transport, were further defined as critical infrastructure in the Accelerating Infrastructure Actions Report and Action Plan published last December.
The Plan sets out 30 targeted actions grouped under four pillars, each addressing a key area of reform, with legal reform noted as a core element for accelerating critical infrastructure projects across the country. This work will, among other measures, include increasing exemption thresholds for critical infrastructure, reform processes with agencies and regulators, advocating for a new approach to legislation at EU level and creating a duty for state bodies to co-operate in making land available and accessible for critical infrastructure.
The delivery of these 30 actions under the four pillars is on track at the end of Q1 2026.
Key achievements in the quarter include significant legislative and regulatory milestones, most notably Government approval of the Critical Infrastructure Bill, publication of draft heads of the Civil Reform Bill, and drafting of the statutory instrument on environmental legal costs. Core regulatory foundations have been put in place through the establishment of the Infrastructure Regulatory Simplification Unit, the issuance of cross Government circulars on better regulation and reaction to precedent and strengthened engagement with regulators and EU institutions to support legislative simplification.
In Q2 2026, the focus will be on advancing priority legislation, progressing planning, regulatory and EU related reforms, strengthening oversight of delivery risks and bottlenecks, embedding procurement and productivity initiatives, and further improving coordination on utilities, land availability and public engagement to support timely delivery of critical infrastructure.
74. Deputy Cormac Devlin 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) 7 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27628/26]
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 or sectoral policy strategies, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case.
NSO 7 deals with the delivery of Enhanced Amenity and Heritage.
Key priorities under NSO 7 include:
• Development of a national Velodrome and Badminton Centre.
• Further Investment in our National Archive which will encompass the provision of a secure environmentally controlled Archival Repository. The project will convert the existing single-story warehouse to a two-storey Archival Repository with increased storage capacity.
• Support for tourism through the development and promotion of regional experience brands such as the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East, and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands.
• The Strategy for World Heritage in Ireland 2025-2035 was launched by Minister James Browne in May 2025. This is Ireland’s first national strategy for UNESCO World Heritage and sets out the Government’s ambitions to increase the number of World Heritage Properties in Ireland and to manage World Heritage sites sustainably.
The Government is committed to reporting regularly on the delivery of the NDP. Details of more projects and programmes being delivered under NSO 7 can be found in the latest Capital Investment Tracker. This 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 provides detailed information on projects across the country, including smaller investments such as schools and cultural and sporting amenities. The map allows users to search by city, county, or eircode to view projects in their local area. The Project Ireland 2040 Capital Investment Tracker and myProjectIreland interactive map are available at gov.ie/2040.
In addition to the tracker, the sectoral plans which were published by Departments at the end of 2025 include planned investment and projects across the country, including a range of projects and critical infrastructure works. These sectoral plans are available on each Departmental website and will provide the Deputy with further detail on a sectoral basis.
76. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the cost of attendance at the Mobile World Congress 2026; the number and grade of officials who attended; and the way in which private partnerships were chosen for his Department. [26993/26]
View answerOfficials from my Department attended the Mobile World Congress event held in Barcelona in March of this year. The Department was invited to attend by the organisers of the event the GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications Association). This invitation was a result of my Department’s work in emergency radio networks for Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) blue light services.
The cost of attendance was as follows:
Flights - €811.68
Accommodation - €7,113.35
MWC ticket fees - €2,373.60
Total cost - €10,298.63
Minister of State Feighan attended the event and was accompanied by his private secretary, special adviser and two principal officers.
77. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the status of progress on the Glashaboy flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27644/26]
View answerCork City Council is leading the delivery of the Glashaboy (Glanmire/Sallybrook) Flood Relief Scheme, working in partnership with the Office of Public Works (OPW).
Statutory confirmation for the Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme was recevied in January 2021 from the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995, as amended.
The scheme, when complete, will provide flood protection to some 103 properties; 78 residential and 25 commercial, and will address the flood risk in a number of locations in the Glanmire area. The proposed scheme is designed to provide protection against a 1 in 100-Year fluvial flood.
The construction stage of the scheme commenced in July 2023. The overall construction works are 98% complete and the expected substantial completion date for the construction contract is the end of April 2026. Cork City Council advise that ancillary works, including works for the operation and maintenance of the scheme will continue throughout the summer. The consultants are reviewing, if any additional works may be required following its assessment of the Storm Babet event.
Funding for the scheme is part of the Government’s commitment for the delivery of flood relief measures over the lifetime of the National Development Plan.
The Total Project Budget for this scheme is estimated at some €38.8 million, with a total expenditure to date of €32.4 million. Updates on the progression of the scheme are available on the scheme's website that is available through the OPW's floodinfo website www.floodinfo.ie/frs/en/glashaboy/home/ .
78. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the progress being made in the digital transformation of public services; the anticipated efficiencies arising from these initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25718/26]
View answerBetter Public Services 2030 is the transformation strategy for the civil and public services and provides the overarching framework for my Department’s public service reform and digitalisation focus in the years ahead. This includes setting digitalisation and data policy for modernised service delivery and providing key features of the digital public service infrastructure that are relevant to the integrated and digital delivery of public services, driving the adoption of Artificial Intelligence, and ensuring digital inclusion.
In November 2025, I launched the Digital Public Services Plan 2030, which sets out Ireland’s roadmap to fully digitalise key public services by 2030, ensuring that 100% of these services are available online and 90% of applicable services are accessed digitally. This involves the digitalisation of the majority of public services including, for example, applying for social housing, obtaining a marriage certificate or registering for key welfare supports, such as the working family payment. My department oversees and monitors implementation of the Digital Public Services Plan through central governance arrangements, performance reporting by Departments and agencies, and ongoing engagement to track progress, manage risks and support delivery. Aligned with this Plan, my Department is delivering critical features of the digital public service infrastructure to improve the quality, consistency and interoperability of digital systems underpinning key public services.
In February 2026, the Department of the Taoiseach published the Digital Ireland strategy, which aims to ensure Ireland remains a digital leader in an increasingly competitive global environment. Underpinned by inclusion and accessibility, its implementation harnesses digital and AI opportunities to deliver effective and modern public services, and to empower our people to thrive in a digital society.
Combined, these strategies and their successful and sustained implementation reshape the way in which public services are delivered and experienced, with the overall goal of reducing the administrative burden, and building trust as well as improving efficiencies and streamlining processes for the public and allowing resources to be redirected towards improving outcomes for citizens.
In this context, my Department places a strong emphasis on securing value for money, in line with DPER Circular 18/2025, which reinforces the requirement that all public expenditure is subject to robust governance and oversight. Through Circular 14/2021, my Department has an oversight and approval role for all new digital and ICT initiatives. The primary objective of the Circular is to ensure that digital and ICT related initiatives are appropriately aligned with all relevant government policies and the strategies that support them; and that appropriate governance arrangements are in place. Consideration of proposed initiatives also includes leveraging complementarities and synergies across Departments where possible, including the reuse of shared digital public infrastructure building blocks developed by the OGCIO, as well as other shared solutions across the public service. From an Exchequer perspective, closer collaboration across different Departments providing joined-up services has the potential to greatly enhance the efficiency of service provision by reducing administrative duplication, siloing and fragmentation of IT systems across the public service. From the perspective of the user, these efficiencies are manifested in the form or more intuitive and user-friendly services that take less time to access and navigate, which don’t require people to continually provide the same information multiple times.
79. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the delivery to-date of National Development Plan 2021-2030 projects for Galway City and County; for an update on his Department's work on developing and publishing the NDP Priority Investment and Sectoral Plans to 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26709/26]
View answerAs 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 Galway – for example the N59 Moycullen Bypass, the Gort-Tuam N17/N18 works, and the Salmon Weir Bridge, a range of school building works and health service investments including for example the Tuam Primary Care Centre, investment in Portiuncula University Hospital and residential care centres across the county and heritage and tourism projects including for example in Portumna and a new community centre on Inis Meáin.
The NDP Review 2025 was published on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, in line with the Programme for Government commitment. The Plan committed €275.4billion 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. On Budget day, Ministers set out the capital projects and programmes that they will prioritise within their allocation in 2026.
Over the end of 2025 and early 2026, individual Ministers developed sectoral level plans, for priority investment programmes and projects within their additional capital allocations for delivery across the country. Considering sectoral needs and Ministerial decisions, these plans reflect Government priorities, including the National Planning Framework commitment to balanced regional development.
The plans published to date include planned investment and projects across the country, including a range of projects in Galway such as
• 35 social and 310 affordable new housing units in Crowne Square in Galway
• New transport infrastructure with Bus Connects Galway, the Galway City Ring Road and the N5 in Roscommon
• And sports and community facilities with the Renville Sports and Community Centre and the East Galway Sports Campus
All Departmental level sectoral plans have been published and are available on each Government Department gov.ie website. These will provide the Deputy with further detail specific to Galway.
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, including in Cork. These will provide the Deputy with even further detail on delivery under the NPD to date. These and other Project Ireland 2040 related documents can be found at www.gov.ie/2040
80. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether he is considering proposals for a State construction company in his plans to ensure that public infrastructure projects are completed within agreed timelines and budgets without overruns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27662/26]
View answerThe State directly employs construction craftspersons across a range of sectors – typically in the repair and maintenance areas, conservation works and on certain flood prevention works.
The buildings and infrastructure that the State develops span a wide range of sectors resulting in a requirement for a significant range of skills and expertise. The volume of work is rarely in a steady state in each sector or within a region so it requires a response that can flex to meet the variation in demand.
The scale and variety of projects is also a key consideration and a number of the critical infrastructure projects which require very niche expertise is only available from the wider, global construction market.
In 2026, examining the ambitious objectives of the National Development Plan, the ESRI identified substantial potential challenges to its delivery. The economy currently faces considerable capacity constraints, particularly in the construction sector. With the economy currently operating at or close to full employment, the scope for significantly expanding the labour force domestically - in particular in the construction sector - is likely to be limited.
In light of the ESRI review, the question of establishing a State construction company would need careful consideration, notwithstanding the length of time it would take to establish such an entity in terms of legislation. It would also take time to build capacity and would have to compete with private sector companies in an already constrained employment market whilst being funded by the taxpayer. Even then it would have to engage specialists to undertake certain elements of work.
Given these constraints it is vital that we look at how we are delivering projects to ensure we are utilising the most efficient means at our disposal. The Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan sets out a range of actions aimed at improving productivity through a greater focus on project planning and management. These include the adoption of Lean principles to digital delivery tools as well as streamlining regulatory processes to create greater certainty with respect to project pipelines.
All state projects, regardless of whether they are delivered by internal resources or through the engagement of contractors, have defined time periods to completion and approved budgets. It is a matter for the contracting authority concerned to ensure that there is proper oversight on projects to see that they are delivered on time and within the approved budget.
Guidance on best practice delivery approaches is published under the Capital Works Management Framework and appropriate project governance is set out in the Infrastructure Guidelines both of which are maintained by my Department.
81. Deputy Catherine Ardagh 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) 4 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27666/26]
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 or sectoral policy strategies, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case. Each Minister is responsible for deciding on the priority programmes and projects that will be delivered under their remit within the NDP and for setting out the timelines for delivery.
NSO 4 – Sustainable Mobility aims to invest in high-quality sustainable mobility to improve the quality of life of all our citizens, support our transition to a low-carbon society and enhance our economic competitiveness. The Department of Transport published the National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland (NIFTI) in 2021 which sets out the prioritisation for future investment in the land transport network.
The right transport investment helps to deliver high-quality travel and supports positive outcomes for society, the environment and the economy. Investment in NSO 4 projects to be delivered in support of Project Ireland 2040 over the coming years include the DART+ Programme, which is a series of projects that will create a full metropolitan area DART network for Dublin with all of the lines linked and connected. The Dart + Coastal North received consent for approval in May 2024 and is currently going through the planning process.
BusConnects is an investment programme designed to fundamentally transform the bus systems in our major cities, so that journeys for passengers by bus will be fast, reliable, punctual, convenient and affordable. There are 12 bus corridor applications for Dublin with construction on the first of these routes from Liffey Valley to City Centre have commenced with a completion date of 2028.
The National Transport Authority is in the process of developing cycling plans for each county under the CycleConnects plan.
Further details of projects and programmes being delivered under NSO 4 can be found in the latest capital investment tracker, which I published yesterday and 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.
The Project Ireland 2040 capital investment tracker and myProjectIreland interactive map are all available on gov.ie/2040.
In addition to the tracker, the sectoral plans which were published by Departments at the end of 2025 include planned investment and projects across the country, including a range of projects and critical infrastructure works. These sectoral plans are available on each Departmental website and will provide the Deputy with further detail on a sectoral basis.
88. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the initiatives he is taking to ensure greater public support for onshore wind energy generation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27337/26]
View answerRecent geopolitical events have shown that the best way to protect electricity consumers, protect our economy, and deliver a more stable and secure energy future is to increase our renewable electricity capacity. Countries with a greater share of renewables are better protected from the impact of volatility in the international fossil fuel markets.
We are seeing that here with recent high renewables limiting the impact of gas price increases on electricity prices and with an ESRI report published this week highlighting how our renewable generation increasingly acts as a hedge against higher wholesale electricity prices.
Currently, we have over 8 GW of renewable electricity generation, up from 5 GW in 2015. Onshore wind now stands at over 5 GW, a doubling since 2015. Provisional figures from EirGrid show that in 2025 nearly 41% of electricity grid demand was met with renewables, with that figure jumping to nearly 50% in both February and March this year.
Communities throughout the country support and are benefiting from renewable electricity projects, through investment and employment in local economies, the paying of commercial rates to Local Authorities, and Community Benefit Funds supporting sustainable community initiatives.
My Department recently launched the ‘Our Energy, Our Future’ information campaign to highlight the opportunities and benefits presented by renewables and achievements so far. My Department is also engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and relevant agencies to enhance Government communication to promote the importance of infrastructure delivery and foster a shared societal understanding of the benefits of renewable infrastructure development.
Officials from my Department continue to work with the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage on a review of the Wind Energy Development Guidelines, which will inform a new National Planning Statement on Wind Energy.
89. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he or his senior officials have had any meetings with National Waste Collection Permit Office since March 2025; if so, the issues discussed at any such meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26717/26]
View answerThe National Waste Collection Permit Office (NWCPO), hosted by Offaly County Council, is the designated Nominated Authority for the processing and review of all waste collection permits issued within the State.
My Department is in regular contact with the NWCPO including meetings, fora and steering committees to discuss topics including, but not limited to, the operation of the waste collection market in Ireland, Waste Recovery Levy collection, and implementation of relevant actions in the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy.
For example, my officials were part of the steering group for the study commissioned by the NWCPO, into incentivised charging in the waste collection market, with the purpose of examining what changes could be made to the permitting system, for waste collectors to fully incentivise waste prevention and improved source segregation practices by their customers to minimise their waste collection bills.
An integral part of the role of the NWCPO is collecting and reviewing the annual returns of each authorised waste collection company to ensure continuing compliance by operators with the conditions attached to the various waste collection permits and to monitor how the waste collection market more generally is operating.
These permits include a requirement that waste collection charging systems should incentivise customers to source segregate their waste. Terms and conditions of individual waste collection contracts, including pricing plans for the provision of bins, are matters between the waste collection companies and their customers, subject to compliance with the terms of their NWCPO permit. All such permits can be viewed in full on nwcpo.ie.
