Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 July 2018
191. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of times he has met his officials regarding Project Ireland 2040 since its launch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30557/18]
View answerI am in constant contact with my Officials in relation to all of the matters that fall into my remit.
In respect of Project Ireland 2040, Government has agreed arrangements to oversee its implementation and the delivery of the National Development Plan. This reflects the fact that Government has now identified the strategic path to be taken, and the focus has now moved to implementation.
As I announced last March, I have established a high level Project Ireland 2040 Delivery Board, supported by an Infrastructure Projects and Programmes Office, to take on this role on behalf of the Government. The Delivery Board consists of the Secretaries General of the main capital spending Departments, and is jointly chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and the Secretary General of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. The Board will report to Government through the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure.
The Delivery Board will monitor and oversee implementation structures and performance across the various sectors to ensure a co-ordinated and collaborative whole-of-Government approach to NDP and NPF delivery. Measures being taken in this regard include:
- The Infrastructure Projects and Programmes Office is being established in my Department to coordinate reporting on the NDP and drive reforms in relation to areas such as project appraisal and selection;
- The Major Capital Projects Tracker, published in September 2017, is being updated and further developed to provide more comprehensive information on the cost and delivery of the various infrastructure projects and programmes identified in the NDP;
- A Construction Sector Group is being established to ensure regular and open dialogue between Government and the construction sector in relation to issues that may impact on the successful delivery of the NDP on a value-for-money basis for the State.
The Project Ireland 2040 Delivery Board has already met twice, in May and June of this year, and is due to meet again in July.
