Written Answers Nos. 61-91
62. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the way in which NDP priorities will be advanced in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40611/26]
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.
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.
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, and an additional €10billion in equity release up to 2030. This included €3.5billion for energy grid capacity, €4.5billion for water and €2billion for low-carbon transport including Metrolink.
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.
€19.1 billion in Exchequer capital investment is being provided in 2026. On Budget day, Ministers set out the capital projects and programmes that they will prioritise within their allocation in 2026.
Departments subsequently 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. The plans include planned investment and projects across the country, including a range of projects and critical infrastructure works for example:
• The infrastructure upgrade and refurbishment programme at Dundalk IT
• Works in a number of schools and social housing works in Drogheda and
• Upgrades of the Drogheda Waste Water Treatment Plant.
These sectoral plans are available on each Departmental webpage on the gov.ie website and will provide the Deputy with further detail on committed project delivery under the NDP across 2026.
Furthermore, the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan, published in December 2025 outlined a range of reforms to speed up delivery of critical infrastructure across Ireland. The Report was in response to the well-documented challenges of lengthy development timelines, fragmented processes, and rising costs, identified as major barriers to achieving Ireland’s housing, energy, and climate objectives.
The Action Plan addresses 12 key barriers and sets out 30 specific, time-bound actions grouped under four pillars, each addressing a key area of reform to speed up the pace of infrastructure delivery in Ireland. Key infrastructure across, electricity, water and transport, were further defined as critical infrastructure in the Report.
The delivery of these 30 actions under the four pillars is on track at the end of Q1 2026. The implementation of the Plan is already having impact on the delivery of capital works, including for example,
• 26 weeks saved on the Waterford Wastewater Treatment Plant project due to the removal of external reviews and change in thresholds within the Infrastructure Guidelines by DPER.
• 12 months off the Greater Dublin Drainage project, due to Uisce Éireann changing the project commissioning - a change made with confidence due to system changes.
• Timelines for Marine Area Consents now reduced by 30% for ‘fit and proper’ bodies.
A Senior Officials Group supports the work on delivery of the Plan. In addition, the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure is updated regularly on progress of Plan delivery. The Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce (AIT) meet regularly to support the work on the Plan.
63. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether his Department has undertaken any review, benchmarking exercise or assessment of the effectiveness of employee performance management systems across the civil service and wider public service, including comparisons with other European Union member states or Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries; the findings and recommendations arising from any such work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39984/26]
View answerThe Performance Management and Development System, which operates across the Civil Service, is overseen by my Department and kept under ongoing review at department and office level. It is important to note that responsibility for performance management in the wider public service rests with the individual sectors and does not fall within the remit of my Department.
Performance data is reviewed annually across organisations to support effective delivery and alignment with priorities. Recent reforms, including the alignment of the Civil Service Capability Framework with the system from January 2026, ensure that arrangements continue to evolve in line with the Public Service Transformation 2030 Strategy.
While there are currently no plans to undertake a formal benchmarking exercise with other jurisdictions, this option will be kept under review in the context of future reform priorities. Ireland actively participates in international networks, including the OECD and the European Public Administration Network (EUPAN), which support the analysis and sharing of international workforce insights and best practice.
64. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update on plans for a permanent solution to flooding at Lough Funshinagh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39684/26]
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 Lough Funshinagh.
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 the options. I met with the Council, elected members and the local community at Roscommon County Council last month, on the 13th April, where I facilitated a briefing on the nine potential options.
In April 2026, a third Public Participation Day (PPD), organised by Roscommon County Council, took place at The Hodson Bay Hotel. Members of the local community, alongside other interested stakeholders, were presented with nine potential scheme options currently under assessment by the Council. The Council and their Consultants are currently undertaking a technical evaluation and comparison of all nine options, taking into account the feedback that was received at the PPD event, and the project’s dual objectives of managing the flood risk and minimising the impact on the environment.
A further PPD event to present the emerging preferred option is planned for Q3 of this year, followed by the completion of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS). A planning application for the scheme is scheduled to be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála later this year in-line with the revised project programme.
65. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the Ballinasloe flood relief scheme; the projected timelines for progression beyond stage 1 scheme development and design; and when residents in affected areas including Station Road and Sarsfield Road can expect flood mitigation works to commence. [40775/26]
View answerThe Flood Risk Management Plan for the Shannon River Basin which launched in 2018, included a recommendation to progress a flood relief scheme for Ballinasloe, Co. Galway. A Project Steering Group, comprising representatives from the Office of Public Works (OPW), as Contracting Authority, and Galway County Council as project partners, is in place to progress the Scheme under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995 (as amended).
In 2019, the OPW appointed Engineering and Environmental Consultants to complete the design of the Scheme, which will provide protection to 309 residential and commercial properties when complete. The Government has committed funding to support the delivery of flood relief schemes under the National Development Plan to 2030.
The Scheme is currently at Stage I, which covers the scheme development and design. Surveys and assessments are ongoing by the consultants in support of preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report which has commenced.
As part of the consultation process for the Scheme, and in order to raise awareness of the proposed flood mitigation works, a Public Consultation Day was held on 5th March 2020. A further Public Consultation to discuss the emerging options for the Scheme took place in Q1 2024. It is anticipated that the Statutory Public Exhibition for the Scheme will commence in Q4 2026 and for the scheme to be submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for statutory confirmation in Q3 2027. Subject to planning consent, construction of the scheme, including measures for Station Road and Sarsfield Road, is scheduled to commence in Q3 2028.
66. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the status of progress of a new public sector pay agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40658/26]
View answerPublic service pay has been governed by a system of collective agreements since the Croke Park Agreement was negotiated in 2010. These multi-year agreements have contributed to stability within our economy by facilitating the delivery of quality public services, ongoing reforms and the maintenance of industrial peace in the public service.
The value of public service agreements to the Government and the taxpayer is ensuring that pay costs are managed in a sustainable and orderly way and in a climate of industrial peace.
Successive public service agreements, including the current PSA 2024–2026, have facilitated and enabled the implementation of reforms to improve the delivery of public services, including those aimed at modernising the public service and performance management frameworks.
The current agreement, the Public Service Agreement (PSA) 2024 – 2026 is a two and half year agreement. The Agreement provides for 9.25% in general pay increases as well as a provision for a Local Bargaining mechanism equivalent to 1% of the basic pay cost.
The PSA runs to end-June 2026, with a final pay increase of 1% for all public servants due to take effect on 1 June 2026. The priority remains the delivery of all elements of the Agreement, including local bargaining. Following this the focus of the parties would be expected to turn to consider the potential for a successor agreement.
67. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will report on the progress being made under Pillar III of the Accelerating Infrastructure Plan [40322/26]
View answerPillar III of the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan addresses Coordination and Delivery Reform. In order to deliver on the commitments of the NDP and Sectoral Investment plans, Ireland must be able to deliver infrastructure at scale, year after year. This can only be achieved with strong, whole-of-Government coordination and a strong construction sector.
My Department’s Infrastructure Division has taken on a proactive oversight and monitoring role for this action plan, which will allow DPER to take early action, where barriers arise in the delivery of critical infrastructure.
Construction sector capacity will be increased by improving career opportunities and incentivising the use of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to increase productivity. Shortened delivery timelines, reduced regulatory complexity, and a reliable project pipeline will all enable the construction sector to build and maintain the workforce and expertise needed to deliver on Ireland’s ambitious capital plans.
All commitments for Q1 across the four pillars have been delivered. Some of the key actions under Pillar III include:
• Completion of the NDP and Sectoral Plans. My Department have compiled a list of the most critical projects, including updates on current and upcoming stages for project delivery for Actions 17, 18 and 19.
• Under Action 21, my Department established a Joint Utilities and Transport Clearing House. This group brings together the lead Departments responsible for infrastructure with utilities, transport authorities, and representatives of local Government.Key issues affecting the coordination and timely delivery of infrastructure are discussed and resolved by JUTCH.
• Under Action 22, DFHERIS published a plan on construction skills needs with the assistance of Indecon. The key recommendations include an assessment of reforms to apprenticeship programmes, coordination of pipelines and prioritisation of project rollout
• Reforms to the Infrastructure Guidelines (IGs) were approved by Government in February, with a Circular issued under Action 23. The updates include removing the External Assurance Process for all major projects, raising the major project threshold to €500 million for water, energy and transport projects, and removing the requirement for Ministerial approval at Approval Gate Two
• Under Action 24 revised ministerial guidelines and Circular have been issued in relation to the use of NDFA support to assist in the technical aspects of project delivery.
• Finally, under Actions 25 and 26 my Department have revised structures within the Construction Sector Group to lead on further and innovation reforms within the construction sector. There are also new structures to standardise procurement processes and enable the use of international forms of contract where appropriate.
I am delighted to say the impacts from these changes are starting to become visible with time savings and processes simplified. For example;
• Waterford Wastewater Treatment Plant is now in detailed design, planning and MAC consent stage. Under previous IG rules this project would likely still be undergoing the External Assurance Review at AG1. This delivers a potential 26 week saving.
• NDFA and Dublin City Council have agreed a partnership to deliver 4,000 homes in Dublin from 2026 to 2030. Early procurement documentation has already been published for the first 2 housing bundles.
68. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on his efforts to improve parking access along Chesterfield Avenue in the Phoenix Park for elderly and disabled people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39148/26]
View answerI refer the Deputy to PQ Ref: 37583/26 answered on 19 May 2026. The position is unchanged.
70. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the measures he is implementing to minimise the waste of public funds and ensure that greater value-for-money is achieved by every Government department and agency. [40600/26]
View answerSecuring value for money is an ongoing priority for this Government and is at the heart of all decision making, at every stage of a policy or programme lifecycle. Delivering value for money is about securing the efficient and effective use of public resources in the pursuit of better public services, living standards and infrastructure for the people of Ireland. It is not solely concerned with costs and price levels – it also involves the consideration of quality, specialist expertise, and social and environmental impacts.
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. My Department also establishes the governance frameworks and rules setting out the principles of how money should be spent to support best practice in the pursuit of value for money. 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.
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.
Value for money is also a key tenet of public procurement in Ireland. The Office of Government Procurement is drafting Ireland’s first National Public Procurement Strategy, which will set out the strategic direction of public procurement in Ireland for the next five years. Value for money features prominently in the forthcoming Strategy - embedded both in its overall vision and defined as one of its core values - ensuring it remains central to how procurement decisions are made and measured across the public sector.
In July 2025, my Department published Circular 18/2025, which set out the value for money obligations of all civil and public servants. This emphasised that value for money must be sought by civil and public servants at all levels and all stages of policy development. It highlighted the roles and responsibilities in the delivery of value for money, as well as the robust guidance, codes of practice, and circulars underpinned by legislation and informed by best practice in the pursuit of value for money.
Additionally in May 2026, my Department published Circular 21/2026, Expenditure Control and Escalation Process. This Circular introduces a formalised and consistent escalation framework for managing expenditure overruns. It provides clarity on escalation stages, roles and corrective actions, enhancing transparency and accountability across Departments. The framework ensures that emerging expenditure pressures are identified early and addressed in a timely and sustainable manner, with flexibility to respond to overruns as they arise.
71. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation which projects within County Galway have been discussed by the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce under the Sectoral Delivery item on the agenda of the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce Meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40391/26]
View answerI formed the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce in May 2025. It is a non-statutory taskforce, whose purpose is to provide me with advice and to support the work of my Department on the programme of reform to unblock barriers and accelerate infrastructure delivery.
I chair the Taskforce. There are an additional twelve members of the Taskforce, six independent experts, experienced in infrastructure delivery, combined with six ex-officio members, taken from those commercial semi-states at the frontline of infrastructure development and the local government sector.
The Taskforce played an important role in advising on the development of the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan published in December by discussing the key barriers impeding progress, and how these can be overcome to unlock infrastructure delivery.
The Taskforce is now focused on supporting the implementation of measures outlined in the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan. Meetings take place on a monthly basis. To date, meetings have not been focused on specific county level projects.
Minutes from these meetings are publicly available on Gov.ie at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-public-expenditure-infrastructure-public-service-reform-and-digitalisation/collections/accelerating-infrastructure-taskforce-meetings/ .
72. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether additional capital investment under the National Development Plan is being considered to support critical infrastructure needs in north Dublin, including rail capacity improvements, coastal flood protection and climate resilience projects in areas vulnerable to coastal overtopping and severe weather events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40812/26]
View answerThe NDP Review 2025 was published on 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.
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 and future commercial opportunities.
Departmental allocations under the NDP have been committed to up to 2030. This is to support multi-annual funding. While there are no plans to change the capital allocations made, Government has committed to another NDP review in 2028.
Since Budget 2026, individual Ministers have 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, and are available on each Department’s website with full details. These include a range of projects across Dublin county and city and will serve both national and local level needs.
For example:
• investment in health infrastructure includes works at the National Children’s Hospital and supporting the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital
• housing investment includes delivering over 1,400 new social housing units and over 1,600 new affordable housing units across the county,
• investment in justice infrastructure including Mountjoy and Wheatfield Prisons and the Dublin Family Courts and
• investment in rail services including Dart+ Coastal North and Metrolink.
The July 2025 NDP announced €2 billion for Uisce Éireann to 2030 for housing delivery and a further €2.5 billion for major projects. This is to support delivery of critical water and wastewater infrastructure including works for the Greater Dublin Area Drainage Project, a significant investment in regional wastewater treatment with capacity to serve 500,000 people. This critical investment will underpin the Government’s commitment to delivery of 300,000 new housing units by 2030.
Full details on each Department’s sectoral investment plans for capital projects across the country are available on each Department’s website. Final plans by all Departments are expected to be published by the end of the year.
73. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to allocate funding to tackle costal erosion and flooding in Rossbeigh and Cromane Lower, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40340/26]
View answerLocal coastal erosion and flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each local authority to investigate and address. The OPW is working closely with Kerry County Council (KCC) to implement a number of initiatives to deal with the issues of coastal protection in the county.
Minor Works Scheme
The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in 2009. The purpose of the scheme is to provide 90% funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding or coastal erosion problems. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame. The funding available for each scheme has been increased from €750,000 to €2 million. I announced the details of the revised criteria for the Minor Works Scheme on May 25th. As part of my announcement I also announced details of a once off funding to local authorities towards the removal of river conveyance blockages.
Since 2009, OPW has approved some 40 projects and €4.2m to KCC under the Minor Works Schemes. Some €2.9m of this approved funding relates to coastal erosion protection works or studies.
Rossbeigh
KCC confirmed that significant repairs of the coastal defences at Rossbeigh Beach were undertaken in 2014. They engaged consultants Malachy Walsh and Partners (MWP) to carry out a summary report on Rossbeigh.
Based on a design by MWP, KCC submitted an application for funding under the Minor Works Scheme for the construction of a rock revetment at Rossbeigh. Funding of €450,000 was approved by the OPW for these works. These works were confirmed completed in 2019.
Cromane
KCC identified 12 houses at serious risk of flooding at Cromane. In 2012 the OPW approved €100,000 funding to KCC under the Minor Works Scheme to raise and widen the existing embankment there protecting 300 metres of coastline.
Current Status
KCC has confirmed details from a Full Kerry County Council meeting held on 18th May 2026 in respect of Rossbeigh and Cromane, that “Kerry County Council expected an application for minor works to be sent to the OPW next month (June 2026), with a detailed design by September 2026.”
Once applications have been received by the OPW for Rossbeigh and Cromane, they will be considered for approval.
74. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will provide an update on the proposed new Garda station at Northern Cross in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40504/26]
View answerAn Garda Síochána’s Capital Programme is agreed between An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
In December 2025, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration published its Sectoral Investment Plan for the Justice Sector.
The Sectoral Investment Plan for the Justice Sector includes a proposal for a new Divisional Headquarter campus in Dublin Metropolitan Region North Division, as part of a wider Construction and Estate Refurbishment Programme.
An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration are now engaged in a process to refine the Brief of Requirements for this Divisional Headquarter campus.
Once this process is complete, the Office of Public Works will engage with An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to support them in identifying and appraising the most suitable site/ sites to support their objectives.
Consistent with the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines, the Office of Public Works will be the project Contracting Authority.
The Office of Public Works will manage and deliver the project subject to the approval of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, as the Approving Authority, and in accordance with subsequent direction from An Garda Síochána, as Sponsoring Agency.
75. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation where he has identified money wastage in his own Department; and the actions he has taken to address these. [40324/26]
View answerThe Government agreed a Medium Term Fiscal Structural Plan in December of last year, setting out expenditure ceilings through to 2030. The Plan provides for significant increases in public spending over the period, with gross voted expenditure projected to reach €147.3 billion by 2030. Delivering on these commitments over the medium term will require strengthened expenditure discipline, including tighter control of spending, avoidance of in-year decisions that give rise to recurring costs and the implementation of robust oversight and governance mechanisms.
In April, the Government agreed that additional funding of €646 million will be provided to the Department of Education and Youth in 2026. It was further agreed that €446 million of this funding will be secured from 2027 onward through a levy applied to other Votes. This approach is intended to ensure that the additional investment in education is accommodated within the fixed expenditure ceilings set out in the Medium Term Fiscal Structural Plan.
The introduction of the levy reflects the need to moderate the overall rate of expenditure growth across Departments in order to facilitate this reprioritisation, while maintaining adherence to the agreed fiscal framework. The design of the levy has taken account of the need to protect key areas of expenditure, including Social Protection non-pay allocations, Department of Health pay, the Specialist Disability Services subhead within the Department of Children, Disability and Equality Vote, Justice sector pay, Housing non-pay, and pension funding across Votes.
It is a matter for each Department to determine how the levy will be managed within its Vote Group, including the identification of the efficiencies, reforms and savings measures required to meet the adjustment. The levy is estimated to impact current expenditure across relevant Votes in a range of between 0.02 per cent and 1.4 per cent.
My own Department has written to Secretaries General following the Government decision, outlining the requirement to identify efficiencies and reforms and noting that this will form a central component of the Estimates process for Budget 2027. In parallel, work is underway within my Department to identify and report on savings and efficiencies as part of this broader exercise.
In this context, my Department will commence the process of identifying sustainable savings in respect of its Vote. This will involve a careful and systematic examination of the Department’s strategic objectives and ambitions, with a view to identifying areas where efficiencies can be achieved without undermining key policy priorities or service delivery.
This will support the Department’s engagement in the Estimates process for Budget 2027 and contribute to the wider Government objective of ensuring that public expenditure is managed in a sustainable, efficient and strategically aligned manner.
76. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to give an update on the National Procurement Strategy, which was due to be published earlier this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40661/26]
View answerThe forthcoming National Public Procurement Strategy has been subject to a comprehensive consultation process to ensure it is informed by the views and experiences of a broad spectrum of Irish business, particularly SMEs and social enterprises, as well as public buyers and policymakers across the public sector. This level of engagement has been critical to identifying the key challenges facing both buyers and suppliers and in shaping practical actions for inclusion in the Strategy. The Strategy is in the final stages of development. I expect to bring it to Government before the Summer recess.
77. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if additional funding will be provided for small scale and large drainage scheme projects in 2026; his proposals for 2027, taking into account the value of smaller scale flood mitigation works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40455/26]
View answerHistorically, flood risk management focused on the arterial drainage of river catchments to improve agricultural land. Maintenance of Arterial and Drainage District channels, designated under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945, is the responsibility of the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Local Authorities respectively. In 1995, due to increased urban flooding, the Arterial Drainage Act 1945 was amended to facilitate the OPW’s implementation of localised flood relief schemes to provide flood protection to cities, towns and villages.
Through the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme (CFRAM), the largest study of flood risk was completed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in 2018. This studied the flood risk for two thirds of the population against the risk of flooding from rivers and the sea. The Government’s Flood Risk Management Plans, an output of CFRAM, provided the evidence for a proactive approach to designing and constructing flood relief schemes for the most at-risk communities. Investment of €1.3 billion through the National Development Plan has allowed the OPW to treble the number of flood relief schemes at design, planning, or construction to some 100 schemes.
The OPW has a statutory duty to maintain Arterial Drainage Schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts of 1945 and 1995, as amended, in proper repair and effective condition. The OPW conducts its ongoing programme of maintenance in-line with environmental best practice. Arterial drainage maintenance is an ongoing programme of works of a cyclical nature. Arterial drainage schemes result in improved drainage outfall and a level of flood protection for 242,800 hectares of agricultural land, in excess of 20,000 properties, 77 towns and villages and 2,400km of roads. The OPW has been allocated €23,511,000 in funding to conduct its maintenance programme for these schemes for 2026. The total funding amount is reviewed by the OPW on a yearly basis and adjusted as necessary, through engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure Infrastructure Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
Local authorities are responsible for the management of flood risk in their administrative areas. In 2009 the OPW introduced the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme. The purpose of this Scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas.
On Monday 25th May, I was pleased to announce that the details of the revised criteria for the Scheme are now available and greatly increase the scope of the Scheme to provide local authorities with a greater opportunity to address localised flood and coastal erosion risk within their administrative areas. The revisions include an increase in the upper threshold in funding for projects from €750,000 to €2m, and an increase in the OPW contribution from 90% to 95% for approved funding above €300,000. I also announced that I have allocated a once-off amount of €3 million in funding to local authorities towards the removal of river conveyance blockages within their administrative areas. The details are available on the OPW website www.opw.ie .
The improvements to the Minor Works Scheme, in addition to the €3 million in funding, will support the essential work undertaken by Local Authorities to address localised flooding problems.
78. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the steps being taken to support small and medium-sized Irish businesses in accessing public procurement opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40690/26]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to review the public procurement process to make it more transparent and to ensure greater participation from SMEs. Working towards this aim, and to set out the strategic direction of public procurement for the next five years, my Department is developing Ireland’s first National Public Procurement Strategy.
The forthcoming Strategy has been subject to an extensive consultation process, which has been critical to understanding the primary challenges faced by suppliers when tendering for public contracts. My Department undertook the following as part of this consultation process:
• A public consultation to ensure that all those with an interest in the future direction of public procurement had an opportunity to inform the new strategy.
• Regional workshops in Dublin, Cork and Athlone, which included public buyers and policymakers from across the public sector, representatives from across the broad spectrum of Irish business and civil society, and members of the public.
• A dedicated webinar for suppliers so they could feed into the development of the Strategy.
• Direct engagement with SME representative bodies through the SME Advisory Group, which is chaired by Minister of State Feighan, during the application of the SME Test.
The Strategy will build on the significant work undertaken by my Department in recent years to promote SME participation. This includes the provision of accessible, practical guidance to support suppliers in navigating and participating in public procurement, as well as guidance for public buyers on measures to promote SME participation. Last November, my Department held Ireland’s first Government Supply Expo, which brought together 2,900 participants for networking, tailored presentations and panel discussions. Most recently, on 26 May, a dedicated information session was held to support SMEs in successfully tendering for public contracts. This work is complemented by ongoing engagement with the SME Advisory Group, which will continue to inform Government policy and provide practical insights into the implementation and impact of the Strategy. These initiatives demonstrate my Department’s ongoing commitment, which will be reflected in the forthcoming Strategy, to strengthen engagement with SMEs and make it easier for them to participate in public procurement.
79. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the current infrastructure he sees as deliverable in Cork before the end of the decade [40325/26]
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.
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 for the agencies and bodies under their remit. They must account for the demands for services in different areas and regions, 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.
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. 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.
The NDP Review 2025 set out planned public investment of €275.4 billion from 2026-2030, and an additional €10 billion in equity release up to 2030. This includes €3.5 billion for energy grid capacity, €4.5 billion for water and €2 billion for low-carbon transport including Metrolink.
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 include planned investment and projects across the country, including a range of projects across transport, justice and utility services in Cork for example:
• Midleton Waste Water Treatment Plant Project
• N72/Mallow Relief Road
• M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy
• Bus Connects Cork and the Cork Area Commuter Rail
• And social and affordable housing at Horgans Quay and Mahon delivering over 390 housing units.
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 webpage on the gov.ie website and will provide the Deputy with further detail on a sectoral basis and expected delivery timelines.
