Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 February 2024
143. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the work his Department is doing to ensure that Ireland will meet its 2030 target of 500,000 dwellings to B2 BER status 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5680/24]
View answerA comprehensive review of the National Development Plan involving several strands of work was undertaken over the course of 2020 and 2021. The Phase 1 report was published in April 2020 and drew upon a number of pieces of research and policy papers. This work culminated in the publication of an updated National Development Plan 2021-2030 (NDP) in October 2021. The NDP provides for investment of €165 billion over the period 2021-2030 and supports a broad range of infrastructure projects and programmes across the country. As Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments. My Ministerial colleagues in Government are responsible for the delivery of the NDP projects that fall under their remit.
Over the past number of years, the delivery of the NDP has been adversely impacted as a result of pandemic related pauses in the construction sector, labour supply issues, the inflationary impacts from both COVID-19 public health measures and the war in Ukraine, with knock-on impacts on the supply chain for construction materials.
As a result, in March 2023, I informed Government of a package of significant actions aimed at enhancing project delivery of the NDP of which one was to commission an independent evaluation of NDP priorities and capacity. The ESRI published its final report on 12 January, 2024. The ESRI report is currently informing my officials and I as we engage with Departments and agencies on their NDP allocations to 2026. An additional €2.25 billion of windfall corporate tax receipts is being allocated for capital investment in years 2024 to 2026. This will facilitate the progression of important projects in key sectors and enable more rapid development of key Programme for Government commitments, particularly the delivery of actions to fulfil our climate action plan commitments. Recognising the capacity constraints in the economy, it is intended that the additional funding will be targeted at projects that are ready for development. The ESRI report is providing valuable input to this process in terms of consideration of key issues such as the capacity to deliver current Government priorities and utilise sectoral capital allocations in a supply constrained economy.
As the Deputy will appreciate, I must consider the competing demands for additional capital expenditure in areas such as health, the education sectors, housing and climate commitments with my Ministerial colleagues. Balancing competing demands and Project Ireland 2040 strategic objectives for projects and programmes is a priority for me and for the Government.
