Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 April 2026
76. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of infrastructure projects completed by public State bodies from 2022 to 2025; to provide a breakdown of the costs to the Exchequer for each of these projects, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29187/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
Securing 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, project or programme's 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 the responsibility of each Minister and Department who spend public funds to ensure that they are achieving value for money, and it is a matter for each Accounting Officer to ensure that capital projects for which they have responsibility are managed and delivered effectively.
The Accounting Officer of each department must ensure that rigorous processes are in place in their Department and any bodies under their aegis and that they are compliant with the Infrastructure Guidelines, the management of capital budgets overall, and the management of budgets at an individual project level.
My Department is also responsible for the Infrastructure Guidelines. These set out guidance for evaluating, planning and managing Exchequer-funded capital projects to ensure that they are completed on time and within budget. The management and delivery of individual investment projects and public services within allocation and the national frameworks including the Infrastructure Guidelines, is a responsibility of the respective Department and Accounting Officer.
As part of the capital appraisal process for projects under the Infrastructure Guidelines, Sponsoring Agents for the projects are asked to critically consider the potential schedule and cost implications of a project, which is further developed as a project progresses through the approval gates and more information becomes available. This includes detailed financial and economic appraisal, sensitivity analysis, accounting for behavioural influences such as optimism bias, consideration of appropriate levels of contingency, and detailed risk assessment.
This Government recognises the impact that delays to project implementation have on project costs and the timely delivery of critical infrastructure and has taken decisive action to address the reasons for these delays. The Accelerating Infrastructure Actions Report and Action Plan published last December 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.
Progress in 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.
