Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:16. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach his plans for a new programme for Government. [37537/18]
View answerProgramme for Government
Questions (16)
Written answers
The Programme for a Partnership Government was agreed in May 2016 during the formation of the Government. This is a five year programme of work being undertaken for the duration of the present Dáil.
The Government publishes progress reports on the Programme for Government each year - the second of which was approved by cabinet in May 2018 and is published on my Department’s website. This report reflects the significant work undertaken by all Government Departments to deliver progress across a wide range of issues, including housing and homelessness, education, health and rural development.
There is more work to be done. The Government remains committed to tackling challenges head on.
The experience of the last two years means it is now reasonable to chart an ambitious path for the remaining three years of the current Dáil’s term.
That path is about ensuring that – to the greatest extent possible – every citizen is enabled to achieve their full potential. We will continue to work towards improving access to our health services; increasing the supply of affordable housing; planning for Brexit; generating quality employment; driving justice and policing reform; continuing the gains that have been made in education; and much more besides.
As regards specific commitments on defence policy, the Government is committed to building and maintaining defence capabilities into the future. Progress continues to be made across all fronts in relation to the defence-related commitments in the Programme for Government through, in the main, the White Paper on Defence. Indeed, more than half of the 88 projects identified for implementation in the White Paper on Defence will have either commenced or been completed by the end of this year.
These include efforts to increase serving strength levels within the Defence Forces - including increased female participation - and supports for veterans. A range of maintenance and equipment priorities are also being progressed and some €35m worth of infrastructure projects are at various stages of implementation.
The Government will continue its work over its lifetime to strengthen our economy and ensure that all citizens benefit from a fair society.
Questions Nos. 17 to 43, inclusive, resubmitted.
Cabinet Committee Meetings
Questions (44)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:44. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee B, social policy and public services, will next meet. [38832/18]
View answerWritten answers
Cabinet Committee B last met on the 7th June and is expected to meet again in the coming weeks.
The Committee, which covers the areas of Social Policy and Public Service Reform, ensures a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of commitments in the Programme for Partnership Government, and provides the opportunity to shape proposals on issues such as equality, disability and disadvantage which require input from multiple Departments.
Work continues as always on the agenda items to make further progress.
Brexit Issues
Questions (45, 48)
Eamon Ryan
Question:45. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach if Brexit was on the agenda at the informal meeting of Heads of Government in Salzburg. [37883/18]
View answerRichard Boyd Barrett
Question:48. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the informal Heads of Government meeting in Salzburg on 19 and 20 September 2018. [38618/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 48 together.
I attended the Informal meeting of EU Heads of State and Government in Salzburg on 19 and 20 September. The Summit, which was chaired by the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, was one of a series of such meetings relating to the Future of Europe.
On this occasion, our focus was on issues relating to migration, and internal security. We had a useful exchange on how best to progress our comprehensive approach to migration, as agreed in June. On internal security, we discussed a range of issues including the increasing complexity of cyber threats, including to the integrity of our electoral systems.
We also met in Article 50 format to review progress in the Brexit negotiations and to discuss next steps. I reiterated the need to ensure that the Withdrawal Agreement between the EU and the UK includes a legally operable backstop, to ensure there can be no return to a hard border on the island of Ireland in any circumstances, and thanked partners for their ongoing strong support and solidarity on this.
Ongoing political engagement with our EU and international partners, remains crucial, in relation to Brexit and other important EU issues. I meet and speak regularly with my EU counterparts bilaterally, and at formal and informal meetings of the European Council, where I use every opportunity to advance Ireland's interests.
I had a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister May in Salzburg where we discussed the Brexit negotiations as well as developments in relation to Northern Ireland. I look forward to meeting my EU counterparts again later this month at the European Council in Brussels on 17 and 18 October.
Questions Nos. 46 and 47 resubmitted.
Question no. 48 answered with Question No. 45.
Questions Nos. 49 to 53, inclusive, resubmitted.
Cabinet Committee Meetings
Questions (54)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:54. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee D, infrastructure, will next meet. [38619/18]
View answerWritten answers
The next meeting of Cabinet Committee D is not yet scheduled.
As I have previously indicated to the House, the Committee works to ensure a coordinated approach to the delivery and ongoing development of policy across the areas of infrastructure investment and delivery, housing, and climate action. There is significant work underway across Government departments and agencies on each of these areas, in particular through regular discussion of these matters at meetings of Government.
Cabinet Committee D also provides a forum for strategic oversight of the delivery of Project Ireland 2040, the Government’s overarching policy initiative to achieve balanced development and meet the infrastructure needs of our growing population.
Under the two pillars of Project Ireland 2040 - the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan – four funds, totalling €4 billion in investment, have been launched in the areas of rural and urban regeneration and development, climate action, and disruptive technologies. These funds will play a very important role in addressing the challenges identified in the National Planning Framework, such as the development of housing within the cities identified and the strengthening of our rural economies and communities.
In addition, the Land Development Agency, another cornerstone initiative of Project Ireland 2040 was recently launched. It will work to ensure the optimal use and management of State land through strategic development and regeneration, with an immediate focus on delivering homes, including social and affordable homes.
Housing remains a central priority for the Government. While the indicators show that the numbers of new houses being built is up by more than a third compared to this time last year and is increasing month on month, we recognise that we are still facing a huge challenge in meeting demand.
In addition to the work in this area through Project Ireland 2040, we will continue to focus on increasing housing supply, tackling homelessness and increasing the availability of affordable and social housing through the delivery of Rebuilding Ireland and the additional policy measures announced by Minister Murphy to tackle these issues.
Climate action objectives are also at the heart of Project Ireland 2040 and building on the National Mitigation Plan an investment of €22 billion in Exchequer and non-Exchequer funding will be made to ensure a step change in climate action policy. In this context, I together my colleagues, Ministers Naughten, Creed, Murphy and Ross, met with the Climate Change Advisory Council on Friday last to discuss the priorities from their 2018 Annual Report and recent statement to the Joint Oireachtas Committee.
Questions Nos. 55 to 59, inclusive, resubmitted.