Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2024
122. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the most recent additional capital allocations to support transport infrastructure projects contained within the NDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15764/24]
View answerMy Department has agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) additional capital allocations for 2025 and 2026. The revised capital ceilings, in DPENDR's memo to government, dated 26th March 2024, set out an unchanged core ceiling for 2024 of €2.664bn. The Department is also in receipt of an additional €72.95m in Shared Island, EU Just Transition Fund and RePowerEU funding. The revised ceiling for 2025 is €2.850bn and the ceiling for 2026 is €3.350bn.
Overall, the memo to government states that the allocation of additional capital to Government Departments will facilitate the progression of important projects in key sectors and enable more rapid development of key Programme for Government commitments, particularly the delivery of actions to fulfil our climate action plan commitments.
My Department's investment plans are very much in line with these overall parameters for the investment of additional capital. The revised ceilings will inform the shape of capital budgets for 2025 and 2026. The Department's investment teams will work closely with its investment agencies to ensure that the capital is deployed as effectively as possible in delivering on the Department's existing priority commitments.
The additional capital allocations will broadly assist in progressing the major infrastructure projects now very advanced in, or starting to emerge from the planning system, such as BusConnects, DART + and Metrolink. The capital will also assist in progressing key road projects such as the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy and the Adare bypass as well as progressing planned EV infrastructure investments. Exact capital allocations to projects have yet to be determined and depend on a wide range of factors, from status in the planning system to approval by government to go to tender based on final business cases.
In addition, existing commitments concerning road and rail protection and renewal, the Department's active travel investment programme and aviation and maritime commitments will all be taken into account when optimising investment plans for 2025 and 2026. I am now happy to take any questions that the Deputy may have.
