Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2024
618. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide the details of costings provided to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, in the context of the National Development Plan 2021-2030 review conducted earlier this year; and to provide a breakdown of each project and its projected cost in each of the years 2025 to 2030. [42711/24]
View answerI thank the Deputy for his question and would ask, at the outset, that he understands that my response is constrained by considerations of commercial sensitivity and the need to protect the State’s ability to achieve maximum value for money.
The National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-30, published in 2021, outlined €165 billion in funding to support capital programmes and projects nationally. Following the Summer Economic Statement 2023, an additional €2.25 billion in funding was made available to be allocated in the 2024 to 2026 period. As the Deputy will know, the review conducted earlier this year was done with a focus on finalising NDP allocation ceilings for 2025-26, in the light of this funding increase.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, within the context of this review, and in light of the changed capital profile of my Department since the NDP was originally published, I have succeeded in securing an increased funding allocation for my department of €146.8m for 2025, as set out in the following table. I have also secured a revised allocation of €180m for 2026, but would note that this figure, and any potential figure beyond 2025, is indicative in nature and will be discussed and finalised in the course of future estimates processes.
|
Area |
2025 Allocation € 000 |
|
Tusla |
30,000 |
|
Early Years |
30,000 |
|
National Centre for Research and Remembrance |
10,000 |
|
Disability |
27,000 |
|
IPAS |
40,000 |
|
Ukraine |
6,800 |
|
Other |
3,000 |
|
Total |
146,800 |
Through this allocation, my department, as part of the National Development Plan, is committed to the delivery of a broad range of important and impactful capital investment through a diverse range of capital programmes including:
• Investment in Tusla, where a comprehensive programme of capital investment will be delivered, with a particular focus on moving forward with the provision of additional Children’s Residential Services and Special Care services.
• Investment in Early Years Childcare. This programme provides investment in early years, early learning, and school aged childcare. My department continues to develop and refine our approach to capital investment in childcare, guided by the ‘First 5, a Whole-of-Government Approach to Strategy for Young Children and their Families 2019-2028’. Investment in the ELC and SAC sector, under the revised National Development Plan (2023-2026) consists of three pillars - Modernisation, Capacity and First 5/Innovation Initiatives. Delivery of capital programmes is underway.
• Investment in developing and upgrading Specialist Community-Based Disability Services, with particular attention to acquiring, renovating, and enhancing residential homes that support individuals living in the community. Additionally, expanding the infrastructure for Children's Services, Day Services, and Respite Facilities will ensure that these essential supports are accessible and adequately meet the needs of individuals nationwide.
This approach is further guided by the Disability Action Plan 2024-2026, which marks the first phase of implementing the recommendations set out in the Disability Capacity Review to 2032, ensuring that capacity is systematically increased to align with anticipated needs.
Investment in the provision of accommodation for International Protection Applicants which will consist of a multi-strand approach with focus on increasing State owned accommodation and the upgrade of additional contingency accommodation, enabling the State to meet the material reception needs of International Protection Applicants, according to the guiding principles of the White Paper to End Direct Provision and the Government’s Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy for International Protection Applicants.
Other capital funding provides allocations towards investment in Youth and Youth Justice, in addition to the NDA and the OCO, for capital works and to deliver improved outcomes through enhanced service infrastructure.
The Deputy may also interested to know that, in addition to the programmes of investment outlined above, progress continues on delivery of the National Centre for Research and Remembrance project. This is a whole-of-Government initiative, led by my department as Sponsoring Agency, which will create a National Centre on the site of the former Magdalen Laundry on Sean McDermott Street, Dublin 1. This site will serve as a museum and exhibition space, a research centre and repository of records relating to institutional trauma in the 20th century, a place for reflection and remembrance, and allow for the provision of social housing and educational and community facilities.
My department is committed to continuing to deliver on our ambitions in line with the NDP and I trust the Deputy will find the above information useful.
