Written Answers Nos. 126-135
126. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide an update on the implementation of the National Development Plan 2021-2030, specifically in relation to NSO 10 of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10391/23]
View answerAs Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level. The responsibility for the management and delivery of individual investment projects, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan 2021 - 2030 (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case.
The Government has committed €165 billion for capital investment as set out in the NDP published in October 2021. The figures announced in the NDP represent a substantial increase of almost 50% on the previous NDP in 2018 and they target investment levels among the highest in the EU, at 5% of GNI*.
In 2023, over €12 billion will be made available to Departments to spend on vital infrastructure in areas such as transport, education, and health, as well as housing, water infrastructure and cultural amenities. The NDP includes indicative Exchequer allocations for each Department for a five year period (2021 to 2025) and overall capital expenditure ceilings out to 2030. This expenditure was considered and agreed in order to support those sectors that would be key in delivering the ten National Strategic Outcomes (NSOs) identified in the National Planning Framework (NPF), including NSO10 (Access to Quality Childcare, Education and Health Services). The NDP has a strong focus on ensuring residential, childcare, health, and education developments, as well as supporting transport infrastructure, support compact growth.
As you are aware, my Department has been renamed to give an additional focus on the delivery of the NDP and to assist Departments in delivering on their much needed priority projects. I am looking at all the policy levers and supporting structures at our disposal that could support the delivery of critical projects. This work will focus on how projects are approved and appraised by Government Departments and Government, the public procurement procedures required to comply with EU regulations under my own remit, and identifying capacity and capability gaps across the public sector and work to bridge these gaps.
127. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his Department has sought any legal advice regarding the use of unclaimed prize money by a company (details supplied) for self-promotional marketing purposes. [10536/23]
View answerThe use of expired unclaimed prize money from National Lottery ticket sales is set out in the licence to operate the National Lottery, which was won, following an open competition, by Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI) in 2013.
The Office of the Regulator of the National Lottery (ORNL) is an independent regulatory office established by statute. The role of the ORNL is set out in the National Lottery Act 2013. A key function of the Regulator is to monitor and enforce compliance with the Act and the licence to operate the National Lottery.
In the context of the Regulator's role to oversee the operation of the National Lottery, the Department for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform has not sought legal advice regarding the use of expired unclaimed prize money by Premier Lotteries Ireland.
128. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide an update on the work undertaken by his Department to address recent targets included in the climate action plan pertaining to capital projects contained within the national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10296/23]
View answer130. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will report on the progress of NSO 8 in the national development plan - "Transition to Climate Neutral and Climate Resilient Society"; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10591/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 130 together.
At the outset it should be noted that my Department, in carrying out its role in coordinating the National Development Plan Review, did not consider the merit of individual projects or sectoral policy strategies as this is primarily a matter for individual Departments and Agencies.
National Strategic Objective (NSO) 8 seeks the Transition to a Climate-Neutral and Climate-Resilient Society. The next ten years are critical in order to address the climate crisis and we have significantly stepped up our climate ambition by committing to reduce our overall greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030, and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
The updated Climate Action Plan is led by the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications on behalf of the Government. The National Development Plan was reviewed in 2021 and approved by Government. All public capital policy interventions, including those that might be developed to support climate action, will need to be afforded within the parameters detailed in the National Development Plan 2021 - 2030 which sets out a level of investment well above the EU average.
It was not the role of the NDP Review to set out a specific blueprint for the achievement of the Climate Action Plan actions. Rather, the Departments in receipt of the capital investment allocations are directly responsible for developing a detailed suite of policies and measures to maximise the impact of this planned investment in delivering actions and achieving targets detailed in the Climate Action Plan. It is the effective implementation of these policies, which will need to blend regulation, behavioural change and taxation measures with direct Government investment that will lead to the achievement of Ireland’s climate ambitions.
During the development of the NDP my Department did, however, undertake an assessment of the climate & environmental impact of NDP Measures with reference to seven climate and environmental criteria (Climate Mitigation, Climate Adaptation, Water Quality, Air Quality, Waste & Circular Economy, Nature & Biodiversity, and Just Transition). This report is available to download at the gov.ie website. In total, 128 measures were assessed. 67% of these measures are deemed, on balance, as being likely to have a net favourable impact on climate and environmental outcomes. 17% are deemed likely to have no significant impact on climate and environmental outcomes, while 16% of measures may have a net unfavourable impact on climate and environmental outcomes. Critically however, it should be noted that this does not mean that these measures are incompatible with the achievement of Ireland’s climate and environmental objectives or that the measure in question should not proceed. Rather it highlights projects for which there is a need for a strong focus on ensuring that the climate and environmental impact of this investment is minimised insofar as possible, and for which, where feasible, Departments should consider going beyond the minimum requirements imposed by legislation and put in place complimentary measures that can offset or negate any potentially harmful impacts that have been identified.
Over the period out to 2030 an additional €5 billion of the expected €9.5 billion in additional carbon tax receipts will be invested in energy efficiency. In terms of strategic investment priorities for the energy sector, this includes supporting the delivery of offshore renewable energy, retrofitting of 500,000 homes, and the installation of 600,000 heat pumps. Specific projects include the Celtic Interconnector, which will be, when completed in 2026, Ireland’s largest electricity interconnector. Strategic investment priorities for Transport include the transition to a low or zero emissions public bus fleet, an additional 500,000 sustainable journeys per day and nearly one million electric vehicles on the road by 2030. In addition, there are a wide range of major flood risk management projects planned throughout the country, for example the Lower Lee flood relief scheme.
These are just some of the many investments which will be delivered under this national strategic objective in the coming years to support Project Ireland 2040. Further details on projects, by NSO, can be found on the investment tracker on gov.ie/2040.
129. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide an update on the work being undertaken by his Department in developing a well-being framework; what legislative underpinning might be required to meaningfully integrate the framework into Ireland’s budgetary cycle; if, in that context, his Department is aware of the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act in Wales that has underpinned the application of the Welsh well-being framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10264/23]
View answerFrom 2022, the Government has committed to featuring the Well-being Framework within the budgetary process. This follows from a commitment in the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future to use a well-being perspective to inform budgetary priorities as a complement to existing economic measurement tools. This commitment regarding the budgetary process is part of a wider undertaking to develop a set of indices to create a holistic view of how Irish society is faring and utilise this in a systematic way across government policy making.
In December 2022, my Department published a working paper that sets out an approach to integrating the Well-being Framework into Ireland’s budgetary cycle. While what is set out in the working paper draws on the experience in other countries, including that of Wales and the approach they have taken with the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, it seeks to do so in a way that is relevant to an Irish budgetary context. As such, rather than focusing on legislation, the overall approach seeks to introduce a well-being perspective at key points in the existing budgetary process and maximise the degree to which this improves policymaking and outcomes through integration with existing budgetary structures.
In June 2022, for the first time, a high-level analysis of the Well-being Dashboard prepared by officials in the Department of the Taoiseach was published and subsequently featured in the Summer Economic Statement.
On Budget Day, the Department of Finance published Budget 2023: Beyond GDP - Quality of Life Assessment that included an updated version of the dashboard and analysis, and a review of tax policy changes in recent years that related to the Income & Wealth and Environment, Climate & Biodiversity dimensions.
In 2021 and 2022, the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform chaired breakout sessions at the National Economic Dialogue that were informed by a well-being perspective. In 2022, the breakout session considered sustainable public expenditure in the context of the Well-being Framework’s vision of “enabling all our people to live fulfilled lives now and into the future”. Participants were asked to consider what might be encompassed by the notion of “fulfilled lives” and the policy issues or challenges that should be prioritised in order to achieve such a vision by 2030. Participants were also asked to consider how public policy might be able to provide opportunities for those whose abilities to progress and change their lives have been hindered by factors such as poverty and deprivation.
The Spending Review process offers an opportunity to develop and present policy analysis that applies a well-being perspective to existing public policies and programmes. In particular, a well-being perspective provides an opportunity to reflect on and examine the impact of public policy on people’s lives. This is in keeping with the Spending Review’s focus on critically assessing policy and programmes in terms of their efficiency and effectiveness, sustainability and ongoing rationale.
131. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the NDP monitoring is showing that projects are being delivered on schedule; and if population growth requires any revisions to the plan. [10542/23]
View answerAs Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments. Management and delivery of individual investment projects within the allocations agreed under the NDP is a key responsibility of every Department and Minister. I am currently examining the support structures and levers available across Government in order to maximise delivery of vital infrastructure such as housing, schools, hospitals, roads and public transport. All options to improve delivery and ensure that capital allocations are best utilised will be examined early in 2023, with necessary reforms to be implemented shortly after.
The National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 (NDP), together with the National Planning Framework (NPF), combine to form Project Ireland 2040, which sets the overarching spatial strategy for the next twenty years for the social, economic and cultural development of Ireland.
The NDP published in October 2021 provides a detailed and positive vision for Ireland over the next 10 years and delivers total public investment of €165 billion over the period 2021-2030. The NDP establishes the Government’s over-arching investment framework and broad direction for investment priorities for this decade. The NDP also set out the range of actions that are being taken to strengthen delivery, maximise value for money and ensure to the greatest extent possible that projects are delivered on time, on budget and with the benefits targeted at the outset.
In 2023, over €12 billion will be made available from the Exchequer for investment in public capital projects, which will provide more schools, homes, hospitals and other pieces of vital infrastructure. This level of expenditure will be pivotal in consolidating the progress already made, and, most importantly, delivering the necessary infrastructure to support our future climate change obligations as well as our social and economic requirements.
The Project Ireland 2040 Delivery Board oversees the delivery of the NDP and in 2022, five external members were appointed to the Board to bring additional expert knowledge, independent and regional perspectives, and an enhanced challenge function to the deliberations of the Board.
Two initiatives were introduced to strengthen the assurance process for major public investment projects to provide more structured scrutiny. An External Assurance Process (EAP), to provide independent scrutiny for major public capital projects over €100 million and the establishment of the Major Projects Advisory Group (MPAG) who scrutinise project proposals and external reviews as a prerequisite to seeking Government approval for major projects.
The Government is also committed to continue to detail the delivery of the NDP at regular intervals into the future to allow for full transparency on the implementation of Project Ireland 2040. This will be achieved through regular updates of the Project Ireland 2040 capital investment tracker and map as well as the publication of annual reports and regional reports highlighting Project Ireland 2040 achievements and giving a detailed overview of the public investments that have been made throughout the country.
These reforms, alongside ongoing engagement with the construction sector regarding capacity and innovation, will support the effective delivery of the public capital programme under the NDP.
Ireland’s public capital infrastructure needs to be substantially strengthened to meet the needs of our growing population. This is the clear focus of all my colleagues in government in planning their capital projects over the medium term. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has commenced a review of the National Planning Framework (NPF) which will account for changes in population on foot of Census 2022, which recorded an increase in population of almost 362,000 or 7.6% since 2016.
132. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform as part of his focus on the NDP and in relation to the capital ceilings, if he has identified particular Departments as a priority and whose current ceiling may need amending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10529/23]
View answerAs Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments. Management and delivery of individual investment projects within the allocations agreed under the NDP is a key responsibility of every Department and Minister.
The National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 (NDP) published in October 2021 provides a detailed and positive vision for Ireland over the next 10 years, and delivers total public investment of €165 billion over the period 2021-2030. The NDP establishes the Government’s over-arching investment framework and broad direction for investment priorities for this decade. Capital allocations for 2021-2025 were set out in the NDP on a Departmental basis. In 2023, over €12 billion will be made available from the Exchequer for investment in public capital projects, which will provide more schools, homes, hospitals and other pieces of vital infrastructure.
As you are aware, my Department has been renamed to give an additional focus on the delivery of the NDP and to assist Departments in delivering on their much needed priority projects within their existing capital ceilings. I am looking at all the policy levers and supporting structures at our disposal that could enhance the delivery of critical projects as well as working with colleagues across Government to remove any potential barriers that are impacting on delivery. This work will focus on how projects are approved and appraised by Government and Government Departments, the public procurement procedures required to comply with EU regulations under my own remit, and identifying capacity and capability gaps across the public sector and work to bridge these gaps.
The capital expenditure ceilings detailed in the NDP take account of the overall capability of the construction sector to deliver on the NDP and of the appropriate share of National Income being devoted to infrastructure. The levels of capital spending set out in the NDP, at close to 5% of GNI*, are already among the highest in the EU and are close to the limit of the overall capability to deliver in the coming decade.
In 2023, over €12 billion will be made available from the Exchequer for investment in public capital projects. This level of expenditure will be pivotal in consolidating the progress already made, and, most importantly, delivering the necessary infrastructure to support our future climate obligations as well as our social and economic requirements. The allocations provided to Departments for 2023 were finalised after detailed negotiations for Budget 2023 and I am confident that the ceilings are at the appropriate levels to continue the delivery of essential public infrastructure this year.
134. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the Office of Public Works or he will provide an inventory of unused State-owned buildings in County Clare at this time; the details of which of these buildings he has proposed as suitable accommodation for Ukrainian refugees and-or individuals who have arrived in Ireland seeking international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10275/23]
View answerI am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works (CPW) that the former Garda station at Broadford is the only unassigned, surplus property in Co. Clare in the ownership of the CPW. There are complex title issues associated with the property, which are currently being examined. Once these issues have been resolved, the property will be prepared for disposal on the open market in line with the OPW’s disposal policy below.
The OPW’s policy with regard to surplus, unassigned State property is to:
1. Identify if the property is required/suitable for alternative State use by either Government Departments or the wider public sector.
2. If there is no other State use identified for a property, the OPW will then consider disposing of the property on the open market if and when conditions prevail, in order to generate revenue for the Exchequer.
3. If no State requirement is identified or if a decision is taken not to dispose of a particular property, the OPW may consider community involvement (subject to a detailed written submission, which would indicate that the community/voluntary group has the means to insure, maintain and manage the property and that there are no ongoing costs for the Exchequer).
In line with above policy, the OPW has provided a list of its surplus properties, including former Garda stations, to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and the relevant Local Authorities so that they could assess them for suitability for social or humanitarian housing purposes. The OPW continues to engage with other State bodies on a regular basis. In that regard, a building in Shannon that is owned by the Commissioners has been identified for alternative State use for humanitarian purposes and is therefore not surplus to State requirements.
The OPW is not in a position to provide data on vacant properties or sites that may be held by other State bodies which have been proposed for humanitarian use.
135. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide an update on the Crossmolina flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10563/23]
View answerI refer to my previous update on this matter given to the House on 19th January of this year regarding the consent process for the River Deel Flood Relief scheme prepared by the Office of Public Works under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 to 1995.
An initial round of public consultation was held beginning on the 1st December 2020 and concluding on the 11th January 2021. Following this period of public consultation, my Department sought additional information regarding the scheme from the Office of Public Works.
The OPW provided this information to my Department in July 2021. On foot of receiving supplementary information of this nature, a further period of public consultation is then required. A second round of public consultation, inclusive of the supplemental information provided by the OPW, took place over the period from the 6th May 2022 to the 1st July 2022.
My Department has engaged independent environmental consultants to review the submissions received and carry out the necessary environmental assessments as required by EU Directives 2011/92 and 2014/52. On completion of this work, I expect that a recommendation will be made to me on whether to confirm the scheme. This work is currently being progressed.
