Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
501. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he has considered introducing named senior responsible owners for major Government projects and European Union directive transposition obligations in order to strengthen accountability and oversight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39462/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraManagement and delivery of investment projects and public services within allocation and the national frameworks, including the Infrastructure Guidelines, as well as in compliance with national and European legal requirements is a key responsibility of every Department, Accounting Officer and Minister.
As set out in the Public Financial Procedures, each Accounting Officer is personally responsible for the safeguarding of public funds and property under his or her control; for the regularity of all the transactions in each Appropriation Account bearing his or her signature; and for the efficiency and economy of administration in his or her Department. Ensuring that capital projects adhere to the Infrastructure Guidelines and provide value for money to the Exchequer is part of that responsibility, as well as ensuring his/her Department is compliant with national and European law.
The Government Department funding an infrastructure project acts as the Approving Authority. The Accounting Officer of the Government Department, who is in most cases the Secretary General has ultimate responsibility for the project. It is a matter for each Accounting Officer to decide whether processes in place in his/her department/ office/body and associated agencies are appropriate to ensure compliance with the Infrastructural Guidelines, manage capital budgets overall and manage budgets at an individual project level.
The Accounting Officer and Approving Authority must:
• Ensure proposals are compliant with the Infrastructure Guidelines, and up-to-date sector specific guidance has been established
• Assess proposals at the 3 Approval gates and decide whether the proposal meets the Infrastructure Guidelines, sector specific guidance and value for money criteria. This includes both detailed financial and economic appraisal, sensitivity analysis, accounting for behavioural influences such as optimism bias as well as consideration of appropriate levels of contingency.
• For Major Projects at Approval Gate 1, forward the Preliminary Business Case to DPER for review process as well as review by the Major Projects Advisory Group (MPAG) in advance of a decision being taken.
• Monitor the project as it is implemented and reviewing whether or not the project should progress should major developments occur
• Review the Ex-Post Evaluation Report incorporating lessons learned into processes and guidance
• Ensure the Strategic Assessment and Preliminary Business Case, the Final Business Case and the Project Completion/Ex-post Evaluation Report are published once approved.
