Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
462. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the main policy achievements of his Department since 22 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30483/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to provide the Deputy with an overview of my Department’s main policy achievements since 22 January, 2025. My Department's priorities are set out in its Statement of Strategy 2025-2028, guided by a mission to drive the delivery of better public services, living standards and infrastructure for the people of Ireland. The strategy outlines how my Department will achieve its goals in the context of the Programme for Government and overall Government priorities and overarching policy frameworks. In this context and in addition to the overview below, the Deputy may wish to note the attached table which sets out a progress update in respect of the Programme for Government actions assigned to my Department.
Overall, delivering reform is central to the Programme for Government and to everything we do in my Department and I believe that implementation of the actions under each of the three strategic goals in the Statement of Strategy – Enhancing Governance; Building Capacity; and Delivering Effectively – will ensure that my Department continues to make a major contribution at the centre of government and to the lives of the people of Ireland.
From an expenditure policy perspective, my Department is playing a central role in shaping Ireland’s fiscal and budgetary landscape through the publication of the Summer Economic Statement, the launch of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the successful delivery of Budget 2026. I have also instituted a review of Public Financial Procedures to enhance accountability and value for money.
My Department has strengthened its infrastructure mandate by establishing a dedicated Infrastructure Division led by a Deputy Secretary General. The Department published a revised National Development Plan in July 2025, allocating €275.4 billion in capital investment to 2035. This is the largest investment programme in the history of the State. To accelerate the delivery of infrastructure, the Department published an Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan in December 2025, following a public consultation on barriers to infrastructure delivery. The Plan is designed to address the key barriers to infrastructure development and drive the efficient delivery of infrastructure across Ireland by progressing reforms across four key pillars: Legal Reform; Regulatory Reform and Simplification; Delivery and Coordination Reform; and Public Acceptance. The Division is prioritising the implementation of the Plan within the Department and across Government in line with agreed actions and timelines.
My Department is also working with a broad range of public bodies on the implementation of the Better Public Services Strategy to deliver agreed flagship programmes under the three pillars of Digital and Innovation at Scale, Workforce and Organisation of the Future and Evidence informed policy and services designed for and with our public. This programme is focused on providing inclusive, high quality and integrated service provision that meets the needs and improves the lives of the people of Ireland. I would highlight, in particular, the publication of a new Digital Public Services Plan (2030). This plan commits to the digitalisation of 189 applicable key public services across 17 Life Events (e.g. Birth of a Child, Becoming Employed/Unemployed). The plan also commits to a service design methodology whereby services will be redesigned after extensive user research. The plan sets a pathway to delivering on two key targets for 2030: (i) 100% of key public services available online; and (ii) 90% of key public services consumed online.
My Department launched the Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service in May 2025. These guidelines form a practical framework aligned with the EU AI Act to support responsible AI adoption in the public service. My Department is also advancing digital transformation through the completion of the State Data Centre and updates to the Digital Inclusion Roadmap.
Aligned to the delivery of Better Public Services, my Department is well advanced in the process of developing a first ever National Public Procurement Strategy. As part of the work to prepare for the Strategy, Ireland’s Strategic Procurement Roadmap (2025), a joint project with the European Commission, reported on the barriers and challenges that public buyers and suppliers face and was the initial pre-consultation scoping exercise for the strategy. The Roadmap provided the initial evidence base and insight for the public consultation which has resulted in the solutions and actions that will be addressed in the Strategy once finalised. My Department also led on Ireland's first cross-government all-island supplier expo, supporting SME access to public procurement opportunities.
Before concluding, I would like to point to a number of other areas advanced during 2025. For example, Ireland’s position on EU Cohesion Policy post 2027 was articulated through a public consultation, Stakeholder Forum and the finalisation of position paper. Civil service reform continues with new workplace policies and updated guidance on CEO remuneration. The Department supports innovation in public service delivery and is advancing a new digital wallet. Ireland also strengthened its leadership in digital government and open data, placing among the top countries globally in both EU and OECD assessments for 2025. In addition to AI usage guidelines referenced above, my Department introduced new skills development initiatives including the ICT Apprenticeship Scheme and the Commercial Skills Academy Strategic Action Plan. Sustainability and legislative reform were prioritised through the approval of a Green Public Procurement Circular and the enactment of the Statute Law Revision Act 2024. Recognition of excellence was achieved with awards and certifications for ethical procurement and data governance, and public engagement was enhanced through initiatives such as the WhereYourMoneyGoes.gov.ie survey.
Finally, I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department’s Annual Report for 2025 will be published in the coming weeks and will outline the Department's achievements throughout 2025 in more detail.
