Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Nov 2001

Vol. 545 No. 2

Written Answers. - National Development Plan.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

105 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if he is monitoring the progress of the national development plan to date; if the plan will proceed on target; his plans or proposals in the event of failure to meet target deadlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30193/01]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The national development plan is a seven year plan which is being delivered through seven operational programmes. The managing authorities for the operational programmes are as follows:

NDP/CSF	Department of Finance
Economic and social infrastructure operational programme	Department of Environment and Local Government
Employment and human resources operational programme	Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Productive sector operational programme	Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Southern and eastern regional operational programme	Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly
Border, midlands and west regional operational programme	Border, Midland and Western Regional Assembly
Peace operational programme	Special EU programmes body
Technical assistance operational programme	Department of Finance

Progress in each operational programme is monitored by a monitoring committee comprised of representatives of the Departments which implement the programme measures, the Department of Finance, the four social partners pillars, the regional assemblies and the European Commission. The monitoring committee is chaired by the managing authorities, which provide secretarial support. There is also a separate monitoring committee for the national development plan and community support framework for Ireland, 2000-2006, chaired by the Department of Finance, which monitors progress across all operational programmes. A Cabinet committee on infrastructure and public private partnerships, chaired by the Taoiseach, has been established to monitor the progress on the implementation of the NDP infrastructure programme. It is assisted in its work by a cross-departmental team of senior officials.

Apart from the elaborate formal monitoring arrangements referred to above, there is ongoing contact between Departments and implementing agencies regarding the implementation of the plan. Over a seven year plan of the scale and ambition of the NDP, projects and programmes may, for various reasons, proceed at a different pace than originally foreseen. I am generally satisfied with the progress to date, especially in the key area of infrastructure. Progress will continue to be the subject of ongoing monitoring and there will be a comprehensive mid-term review of the progress of the plan in 2003.