James Lawless
Question:76. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the DART+ South West programme, which will service Celbridge. [10387/23]
View answerRail Network
Questions (76)
Written answers
The DART+ South West project on the Kildare rail line is one of five complementary projects under the DART+ programme for the extension and/or enhancement of the current DART system. The programme includes:
- DART+ West to Maynooth / M3 Parkway.
- DART+ South West to Hazelhatch & Celbridge
- DART+ Coastal North to Drogheda.
- DART+ Coastal South to Greystones.
- DART+ Fleet
The National Transport Authority (NTA), in collaboration with Iarnród Éireann, is progressing these projects which are at varying stages of planning and development, with DART+ Fleet and DART+ West being the most advanced.
In December 2021, the Government approved the Preliminary Business Case for the overall DART+ Programme under Decision Gate 1 of the Public Spending Code. This decision also granted Decision Gate 1 approval under the Code to DART+ West which allowed the project to enter the statutory planning process. The Railway Order for DART+ West was submitted to An Bord Pleanála in July 2022.
Decision Gate 3 approval by Government of the DART+ Fleet framework agreement between Iarnród Éireann and Alstom in December 2021 permitted the purchase of 95 DART carriages, for entry into service in 2025. On 29 November 2022, the Government approved a second purchase of fleet under the framework agreement, which will see a further 90 new battery-electric multiple units enter service in 2026.
The next element of the DART+ programme is the DART+ South West project and I intend to bring an updated Preliminary Business Case in respect of the project to Government next month for Decision Gate 1 approval under the Public Spending Code. This will enable the DART+ South West project to enter the statutory planning process through the submission of a Railway Order Application to An Bord Pleanála.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Questions (77)
Michael Lowry
Question:77. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which he expects to meet carbon reduction targets in commercial transportation and other transportation sectors without jeopardising Ireland's economic capabilities; the Government and EU supports that will be provided to these sectors; the investments his Department intends to make in Ireland’s transport infrastructure to aid the transition to a zero-emission future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9911/23]
View answerWritten answers
Following the adoption of the carbon budget programme by Dáil Éireann in April 2022, the Government agreed and established sectoral emissions ceilings for relevant sectors of the economy in July 2022, in accordance with provisions set out under the Climate and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 (‘Climate Acts 2015-2021’).
Under this legally binding framework, we are therefore obligated to identify and pursue a transport decarbonisation pathway (for all domestic transportation sectors) that will deliver a 50% reduction from the 2018 emissions baseline of 12.2 megatonnes of CO2 equivalent (MtCO2eq., or Mt) to 6.1 Mt by 2030, and to do so in a manner that is consistent with a sectoral emissions ceiling of 54 Mt for the first carbon budget period (2021-2025), and a further reduced sectoral emissions ceiling of 37 Mt over the second carbon budget period (2026-2030), having regard to the provisions set out under Section 4 of the Climate Act.
Meeting our 2030 transport abatement targets will require transformational change and the transport chapter of Climate Action Plan 2023 (CAP23) and the forthcoming associated Annex of Actions therefore establish key work programmes and actions in accordance with an ‘Avoid-Shift-Improve' framework for greater transport sustainability, in addition to updated metrics that have been informed by detailed transport modelling to reflect the level of change required across all relevant transportation sectors – including a special focus on the road haulage sector.
With regard to commercial transportation, the transport chapter of CAP23 acknowledges that given the limited zero-carbon alternatives currently available to commercial operators, decarbonisation of the haulage and heavy goods road freight sector poses a particular challenge. The transport chapter has therefore been developed in close concert and alongside the publication of our first-ever 10-year government strategy dedicated to the haulage and road freight sector.
Our Road Haulage Strategy, which was published in December 2022, has set out 39 key measures and supporting policies to generate efficiencies, improve standards, secure jobs and help the road freight sector move to a low-carbon future while ensuring the long-term viability of the sector. Under the proposed decarbonisation pathway that is set out in both publications, in addition to increased use of biofuel blending to reach a B20 level by 2030 (i.e. a 20% biodiesel blend), key targets for our commercial fleet include achieving a transition to 95,000 commercial EVs, a 30% zero emission share of new medium to heavy duty vehicle registrations being zero emission vehicles, and 3,500 low emission heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). Under this decarbonisation pathway, and accounting for projected demographic and growth in commercial goods movements, we expect that HGV emissions would see a net reduction of approximately 10% relative to their 2.2 Mt baseline emissions by 2030.
A number of key Government supports are also already in place to help decarbonise the heavy-duty sector, including the Alternatively Fuelled Heavy-Duty Vehicle (‘AFHDV’) Purchase Grant Scheme, which supports and promotes the decarbonisation of the heavy-duty sector to transition from vehicles fuelled by fossil fuels. A total of €5m in funding has been provided for the scheme in 2023, and commercial transport operators may also avail of the Low Emission Vehicle Toll Incentive or ‘LEVTI’ Scheme, which offers toll discounts for alternatively fuelled vehicles. The Finance Act 2020 also provided for commercial transport operators to avail of the Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) scheme, which allows taxpayers to deduct the full cost of capital expenditure on eligible vehicles and equipment (e.g. charging points) from taxable profits for the year in which the equipment is first used for the purposes of the trade. Other supporting mechanisms such as the Climate Action Fund, which will provide at least €500 million in government funding up to 2027 across all sectors, or the EU’s Just Transition Fund Programme, which has allocated €18 million for planned transport investments in the Midlands region, are also in place to support eligible sustainable transport programmes.
With respect to supporting infrastructure, here I note that the forthcoming Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) under the EU’s Fit for 55 Package will also set minimum mandatory requirements for Member States to provide a sufficiently dense electric charging point and hydrogen refuelling network on the TEN-T network, to provide commercial transport operators and the wider public with increased confidence to transition to zero-emission alternatives. This file is currently in trilogue phase of negotiations with the Commission and European Parliament and final agreement on this file, expected later this year, will further inform the work of Zero Emissions Vehicles Ireland and roll out of our National EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy, and implementation plans for publicly accessible high-powered charging stations. In line with the final AFIR position, my Department will also develop a revised National Policy Framework for Alternative Fuels in Transport that will set out further detail in support of the long-term sustainability and decarbonisation of the transport sector.
Finally, my Department in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure (Northern Ireland), is preparing a strategy for the development of the railway sector on the Island of Ireland over the coming decades, including considerations regarding the role of rail freight. This Strategic Rail Review is now at an advanced stage and will be published once the necessary approvals are secured.
Public Transport
Questions (78)
Holly Cairns
Question:78. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the delivery of Connecting Ireland in Cork South-West. [10272/23]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including delivering the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for the rollout of services under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, including in Cork South West, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.
Road Projects
Questions (79)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:79. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update from his Department on the discussions that have taken place with Meath County Council in respect of progressing the proposed Julianstown bypass, which aims to deal with the relentless congestion experienced in the village; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10438/23]
View answerWritten answers
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Councils’ own resources supplemented by State road grants, where applicable. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the Council.
The major cuts to funding for regional and local roads during the post 2008 recession resulted in the build-up of a substantial backlog of works across the country. The estimated cost of the backlog is in excess of €5 billion. Because of the pressures on the regional and local road network, approximately 90% of available Exchequer grant assistance to local authorities for regional and local roads is being directed to maintenance and renewal works rather than for new roads or for road realignments.
Any road improvement projects proposed by local authorities for consideration under the Strategic Grant Programme are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. All projects put forward by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the Public Spending Code and my Department's Capital Appraisal Framework.
The revised Public Spending Code requires a Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) for all projects with an estimated expenditure of €10 million or more. The SAR is now a key deliverable at the first decision stage in the project appraisal process. In this context Meath County Council is liaising with the Department concerning the preparation of a SAR.
Further, I am aware that Meath County Council received planning approval in November 2021 for a traffic calming scheme for the village and that the Council proposes to implement the scheme over a number of phases, subject to available resources.
Bus Services
Questions (80)
Marc MacSharry
Question:80. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Transport if he is prepared to immediately increase services on the S2 bus route in Sligo that services Rosses Point, among other locations in Sligo, which is insufficient at current capacity given the effective doubling of the population on the Rosses Point peninsula due to accommodation of Ukrainian refugees, such that school children and elderly people are unable to secure a seat on the bus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10497/23]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
My Department and National Transport Authority (NTA) continue to monitor and respond to the influx of refugees due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and are factoring in the geographical spread of Ukrainian refugees into the planning process. In order to serve a dual purpose by catering for both existing demand as well as responding to the increased pressures on services where the local population has grown in response to the humanitarian crisis, the NTA have accelerated the implementation of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, and also added additional stops, routes and services where the need has arisen.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for public transport services, including in County Sligo, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.
Departmental Funding
Questions (81)
Seán Canney
Question:81. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport when a new tranche of funding will be made available for the safer access to schools scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2882/23]
View answerWritten answers
In March 2021, I launched the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programme as a response to the need to improve safety at the ‘front of school’ environment and enhance access to school grounds. The programme aims to support walking, scooting and cycling to primary and post-primary schools and to create safer walking and cycling routes within communities. This will help alleviate congestion at school gates and increase the number of students who walk or cycle to school by providing the necessary infrastructure.
The Programme is funded by my Department through the National Transport Authority (NTA). An Taisce’s Green-Schools is coordinating the programme and funding will be made available to local authorities who will play a key part in delivering the infrastructure along access routes and at the school gate.
All schools were notified of the programme and were invited to apply. 931 applications were received from primary and secondary schools across every county in Ireland, making up around a quarter of all the schools in the country. 167 schools form Round 1 of the Programme with a further 108 schools having been selected for inclusion in Round 2. It should be noted that all schools that applied to the original call for applications were accepted into the programme, and if not selected in the first two rounds will be selected at a later stage without the need to reapply.
Noting the above, there are no plans at present for an additional call for applications.
Air Services
Questions (82)
Pearse Doherty
Question:82. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport if he can give assurances that the recent disruption to travel due to an airline (details supplied) cancelling flights to Donegal Airport will not recur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10524/23]
View answerWritten answers
Regional connectivity is of critical importance to this Government. I am very aware that the current government funded public service obligation (PSO) air service contract in place on the Donegal/Dublin route provides the people and businesses in the North-West with vital daily air services to Dublin.. As well as supporting Government’s commitment to balanced regional development, these services also support growth of the economy and tourism in the region and facilitate access for people to attend medical and other important appointments.
Given this, it was extremely unfortunate that a technical difficulty with the designated aircraft on this route resulted in 12 cancelled flights between the 4th and 13th of February. Affected passengers were offered coach transfers to Dublin or accommodation on the next available flight.
Approximately 60% of the scheduled services were operated during this period and the intermittent disruption was fully addressed on the 15th of February, when a dedicated standby aircraft entered into service on this route. No further cancellations have since been reported on this route.
To mitigate against any possible future reoccurrence, the airline has provided my Department with the necessary assurance that appropriate measures are in place to bring a standby aircraft into service on this route should similar technical difficulties be experienced in the future.
I can also advise the Deputy that my Department will continue to monitor the airline's performance in accordance with the PSO contract for the provision of these services.
Rail Network
Questions (83)
Alan Dillon
Question:83. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Transport the plans in place to improve the rail system between Mayo and Dublin; if he will outline his position on the western rail corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10561/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy may be aware, a financial and economic appraisal in relation to the potential re-opening of Phases 2 and 3 of the Western Rail Corridor, commissioned by Iarnród Éireann and conducted by EY economic consultants, was published in early 2021 and is available to view at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/1174d-review-of-western-rail-corridor-phases-2-and-3-athenry-to-claremorris/
This report was subject to an independent review commissioned by my Department and conducted by JASPERS, an agency of the EU/EIB, and that review is also available to view through the above link.
As the Deputy may also be aware, the Strategic Rail Review, which is being undertaken in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, will inform the development of inter-urban/inter-regional rail on the Island of Ireland over the coming decades. It will establish the strategic backdrop to rail investment in our regions that the JASPERS review noted was lacking when considering investment in Phase 2 and 3 of the Western Rail Corridor.
The Review is considering the potential scope for improved rail services along various existing and potential future corridors of the network, and that scope will include the potential afforded by disused and closed lines such as the Western Rail Corridor. The Review will also look at improving the rail system between Mayo and Dublin. It would be premature to commit to the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor before the Review is finalised.
The Review is now at an advanced stage. Publication of the report will follow after the necessary approvals have been secured.
Cycling Policy
Questions (84)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh
Question:84. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Transport the status of the programme for Government commitment to establish regional cycle design offices, co-located in the seven regional design offices for roads, to support local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10267/23]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for the overall policy and funding as it relates to Active Travel and Greenways. The Regional Design Offices (RDOs) fall under the remit of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), and I am therefore referring the Deputy's question to that agency for an up-to-date response. Please advise my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
The Deputy may also be interested to note that my Department has invested in resources to increase local authority capacity to spend the increased Active Travel funding and deliver up to 2,000 projects around the country. Over 200 additional staff have been recruited since 2021 across local authorities to work on the delivery of walking and cycling infrastructure, and recruitment is ongoing.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.
Taxi Licences
Questions (85)
Sorca Clarke
Question:85. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the reason working taxi licence owners cannot pass on their licence until death; and the proposals to amend this to facilitate transfer of ownership during the lifetime of the owner upon incapacitation or retirement. [10269/23]
View answerWritten answers
The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry including licensing, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016.
As the Deputy is aware the transfer of licences for SPSVs is, at present, prohibited under section 14(1) of the Taxi Regulation Act, 2013. All SPSV vehicle licences are unique to the person to whom the licence has been issued and cannot be transferred or sold to another person.
In 2011, the Taxi Review Group examined standards and practice in the taxi sector. This Review Group included various stakeholders, such as dispatch operators, drivers, consumers, as well as the regulatory and enforcement agencies. The Review Group considered that it was necessary to move away from a system whereby a licence would have value. Instead, a licence should determine a person’s suitability to carry out a function and it should not have monetary value or be traded on the open market. Therefore, the current licensing regime is built on this principle. An SPSV licence should simply indicate a person’s suitability to carry out the role of taxi operator, as decided by Revenue, An Garda Síochána and the NTA.
The Advisory Committee on SPSVs sent advice to me on this subject recently which indicates that it is not in favour of reverting to a legal situation which allows for the transferability of SPSV licences. I have considered the Committee's Report and I accept the Committee's advice that the transferability of SPSV licences should not be allowed, as is currently the position.
Question No. 86 answered with Question No. 15.
Public Transport
Questions (87)
Michael Moynihan
Question:87. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport if HVO fuel could be used in the public transport fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10389/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.
The issue of the usage of HVO Fuel in the public transport fleet is a matter for Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), which manages the purchasing of fuel on behalf of its subsidiary operating companies, in conjunction with the National Transport Authority, and I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to CIÉ for direct reply.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.
Transport Policy
Questions (88)
James O'Connor
Question:88. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the progress of the development of the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10299/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy 2040 was developed by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in collaboration with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), Cork City Council and Cork County Council.
Noting the NTA's role in the development of the strategy, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply in relation to progress on its delivery. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51
Departmental Budgets
Questions (89)
Verona Murphy
Question:89. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the current capital budget allocation for the Department for rail transport in 2021, 2022, and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10517/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy has requested, the following table shows the exchequer capital outturn for rail infrastructure in 2021 and 2022, and the exchequer capital allocation for rail infrastructure in 2023.
|
- |
2021 € Million Outturn |
2022 € Million Outturn |
2023 € Million Allocation |
|
Rail Programmes |
561.1 |
622.3 |
595.0 |
Questions Nos. 90 to 92, inclusive, answered orally.
Departmental Budgets
Questions (93)
Verona Murphy
Question:93. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will outline the capital expenditure budget to be allocated to assist with infrastructure improvements at Rosslare Europort to ensure future growth in the output of the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10771/23]
View answerWritten answers
As a consequence of the UK’s decision to leave the EU, the infrastructure developed by my Office, acting on an agency basis, for the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine and the Department of Health/HSE, was required to conduct checks and controls. Compliance with the Union Customs Code (UCC) remains a key driver for the need for permanent state infrastructure within Rosslare Europort and my Office is playing a key role to ensure that this infrastructure is put in place. Border control posts must be located within the customs controlled area at the point of entry.
To date, my Office has been working in close collaboration with relevant Government Departments, State Agencies and Iarnród Eireann/Irish Rail on the project milestones that have been achieved to date. This includes securing planning permission from Wexford County Council in November 2021, the development of detailed tender documentation and its subsequent publication on eTenders to the market. This project is currently out to tender with a tender deadline of 10 March 2023.
The tender process is at a critical juncture and in view of the very imminent receipt of tenders for this important capital project the total project budget is commercially sensitive at this point in time. The tender is due in a little over a week and I know the Deputy will understand that this is the point in time in the whole procedure where we do not want to jeopardise the impartiality of the process.
However, by way of background, my Office has had a critical role in the development of State infrastructure facilities as a consequence of the UK’s decision to leave the EU. Additional physical infrastructure has been put in place at Dublin Port, Rosslare Europort and Dublin Airport to ensure Ireland can effectively manage the requirements for checks and controls on trade with Great Britain. This has been one of the most critical and visible aspects of the Government’s preparedness for Brexit.
In 2018 the work on development of the required infrastructure began, with a Secretary General-level Brexit Infrastructure Group, chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, mandated by Government to oversee the preparations. The Group includes the Secretaries General of the Departments of Agriculture, Food & the Marine; Health; Transport; Foreign Affairs; and the Chairmen of the Revenue Commissioners and the OPW. This work has also been supported by a Brexit Infrastructure Working Group chaired by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
The infrastructure designed by my Office will deliver a UCC and Official Food Controls compliant solution. As well as this, there will also be enhanced road layout and markings with improved traffic management, an automatic number plate recognition system and access to and from a central control compound situated within the confines of the Port with barrier controlled exit. Further infrastructure will provide parking space for significant volumes of vehicles, office facilities and inspection and storage rooms that meet the EU legislative requirements and finally high quality broadband lines.
In order to be ready for the March 2019 deadline temporary infrastructure was put in place in Kilraine, 1.3 kilometres outside the Port, as a temporary solution pending the development of permanent infrastructure. This approach ensured that customs and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks and controls could be undertaken on imports and exports from Great Britain from the end of March 2019.
Following this, further work was undertaken by my Office to deliver additional capacity in preparation for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit in October 2019 and then in January 2020.
In addition, a significant amount of work was undertaken to add further capacity to ensure that infrastructure was in place at Rosslare, Dublin Port and Dublin Airport at the end of the Brexit Transition Period (December 2020). This capacity has been operational since 1 January 2021.
During 2019 and 2020, enhancements were made to the temporary facilities in Kilrane. All of these timelines have come and gone. My Office ensured that Ireland was ready to deal with all of the additional inspections, checks and regulatory requirements that were coming into existence in a period of unknown deadlines.
At the same time, my Office advanced the detailed design of a permanent solution within Rosslare Europort in conjunction with the Government Department and State Agencies.
The project consists of the construction of Rosslare Europort Terminal 7 and Enabling Works and a new Border Control Post. This project is to develop the necessary permanent infrastructure at Rosslare Europort to comply with customs, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and official food controls as a consequence of Brexit. The works will comprise of the demolition of existing buildings and construction of new permanent buildings totalling circa 9,361 m2. These buildings include facilities such as An Garda Síochána Immigration facility, a Revenue Enforcement and Stopping Area, live animal inspection facilities for equine and domestic pets, checks on animal products, regulated plant products and high-risk foods of non-animal origin entering the Union. There is also a new main access road, a roundabout, internal road and freight entrance plaza along with significant hard-standing and truck-set/car-storage facilities to be constructed.
Significant enabling works on behalf of Iarnród Eireann/Irish Rail have been factored into the overall plan, as parts of the proposed site for the permanent infrastructure are in use by the Port. The enabling works will provide for the relocation of activities within the Port and facilitate the release of the permanent site for the new facilities. It is important that the ongoing operational activities of the Port can continue uninterrupted while construction work is underway and that the impact on the Ports’ future business development is minimised.
This project will be primarily funded under the EU’s Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) which aims to provide financial support to the most effected Member States, regions and sectors to deal with the adverse consequence of Brexit. To comply with the requirements of the BAR Regulation the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform is the Designated Body responsible for the management and oversight of BAR funding.
On receipt of tenders in the next two weeks, my Office will immediately commence the evaluation process and recommendation to the relevant Government Departments and State Agencies. In view of the scale of this project, a Memo for Government will be brought seeking approval prior to the award of the contract. I am confident that my Office will continue to deliver this critical project for these Departments, for the development of Rosslare Europort specifically, for the wider economic development of the region and for Ireland to continue to trade successfully with all its trading partners.
National Development Plan
Questions (94)
Richard O'Donoghue
Question:94. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the oversight that is kept of the moneys allocated to various projects within the €165 billion which was allocated to the National Development Plan (details supplied). [10773/23]
View answerWritten answers
As 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 (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case. My Department therefore allocates expenditure on a Departmental basis and not a geographic basis.
The NDP published in October 2021 provides a detailed and positive vision for Ireland out to 2030 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.
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 infrastructure to support our future climate, social and economic requirements.
The Government will 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 which have been made throughout the country.
The capital investment tracker provides a composite update on the progress of all major investments with an estimated cost of greater than €20 million. The tracker includes a number of major projects directly related to Limerick City and County. Accompanying the tracker, the myProjectIreland interactive map details projects across the country and provides details on specific projects by county, including smaller investments such as schools and social housing projects. Search facilities also allow citizens to view projects in their regional area, by city, by county or by eircode.
In addition, Regional Reports on the implementation of Project Ireland 2040 in the Southern Region have been published for 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. The reports set out the regional projects and programmes, which are being planned and delivered in the Southern Region, including in both Limerick City and County, as part of the public investment detailed in Project Ireland 2040. While the reports do not provide an exhaustive list of all public capital expenditure in the region, they serve to highlight the diverse range of investments being made by the State under Project Ireland 2040, including in Limerick City and County.
The Project Ireland 2040 Regional Reports, capital investment tracker and myProjectIreland interactive map are all available on gov.ie/2040.
Questions Nos. 95 to 97, inclusive, answered orally.
EU Funding
Questions (98, 105)
Brendan Smith
Question:98. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the expected timeline for the roll-out of the PEACEPLUS programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10464/23]
View answerBrendan Smith
Question:105. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the proposed level of funding for the PEACEPLUS programme; the breakdown in funding to be provided by the Government, the European Union and the British Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10465/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 105 together.
I thank the Deputy for his questions and for his ongoing interest in the PEACEPLUS programme.
I am very pleased that this new cross-border EU programme is now on the cusp of opening. PEACEPLUS will succeed the outgoing INTERREG VA and PEACE IV EU programmes, supporting shared peace and prosperity across the programme area of Northern Ireland and the Border counties of Ireland.
The PEACEPLUS programme was developed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), working closely with my Department and with the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland. The development of the programme included an extensive public consultation process across the programme area. The draft programme was approved by Government, by the Northern Ireland Executive and by the North South Ministerial Council in October 2021. It was formally approved and adopted by the European Commission in July 2022.
The PEACEPLUS programme will be underpinned by a Financing Agreement between the EU, the UK and Ireland. A final text of this document is being prepared and Government approval for its signature will be sought very shortly. It is expected that the Financing Agreement will enter into force in time to allow for the first funding Calls for Application to issue under PEACEPLUS during Q2 2023. Further Calls for Applications will be rolled out over 2023 and 2024, and the SEUPB expect to make the first funding award in late 2023 or early 2024.
In terms of funding, PEACEPLUS will have a total budget of €1.145 billion. This is an unprecedented funding allocation – more than twice the combined value of the most recent INTERREG and PEACE programmes. The breakdown of this funding reflects the commitment in the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement that the EU and the UK would fund PEACEPLUS at the same proportions as the INTERREG and PEACE programmes. €916 million, or 80%, of the programme funding is ERDF, of which the European Union is providing over €234million and the UK Government over €681 million. The other 20% of the programme, €229 million, is known as match funding, and is comprised of €59 million from Irish Government Departments and €170m from the Northern Ireland Executive.
Questions Nos. 99 to 101, inclusive, answered orally.