Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 January 2018
9. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the levels of capital expenditure which will be allocated for infrastructure projects for County Donegal; the timeframe for these allocations; the projects for which funding will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2127/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the Government is strongly committed to increasing public funding for capital investment in appropriate regional infrastructure across Ireland over the next four years and beyond in order to meet key requirements in areas such as, for example, housing, transport, broadband, education, health and flood defences.
As I announced in Budget 2018, Government has allocated a significant increase in public capital investment amounting to €4.3 billion over the remaining four years of the Capital Plan 2018-2021. These resources have been allocated on the basis of a detailed assessment of public capital investment needs set out in the review of the current capital plan drawing on the comprehensive infrastructure capacity and demand analysis prepared by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service and published alongside the capital review last September. It is also important to note that these investment resources are in addition to the additional €2.2 billion for housing outlined in the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
Consequently between 2014 and 2021 public capital expenditure in Ireland will have more than doubled and as set out by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, this will see public investment in Ireland moving to among the highest in the EU.
My Department is currently preparing a long-term 10-year capital plan, covering the period 2018 to 2027, which will be integrated with, and will support the achievement of, the spatial planning objectives of the forthcoming National Planning Framework detailed under the Ireland 2040 Plan, to ensure that there is a sustainable basis for future population, employment and economic growth on a balanced regional basis. The 10-year plan will set out the Government's plans for capital investment over the longer term and it will also set out how the Government proposes to ensure an appropriate regional balance is achieved in terms of infrastructural investment, consistent with the objectives of the National Planning Framework.
The Deputy will be aware that promoting the development of the North-West Region as an interlinked area of strategic importance through collaborative structures and a joined-upapproach to spatial planning is a specific national policy objective included in the draft Ireland 2040 Plan.
In addition to the recent opening of a new court house in Letterkenny, projects scheduled to be implemented for Co Donegal will include the upgrading of 3 sections of the N56 and the provision of 177 grants to primary schools under the minor works grant scheme.
I should point out, however, that the selection of individual projects to be progressed, such as individual infrastructure projects in County Donegal, and the specific level of capital allocations arising will continue to be a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant sectoral Minister and their Departments and agencies - subject to compliance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code in relation to planning, assessment and appraisal of project proposals in the normal way.
