Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Apr 2001

Vol. 533 No. 6

Written Answers. - National Development Plan.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

196 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider the development of a public-private partnership with a consultancy or contract team of world class standard to oversee the implementation of the National Development Plan; if he will ensure that the plan is implemented within budget and on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9764/01]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy):

I have no plans to introduce the type of arrangement for overseeing implementation of the National Development Plan 2000-2006 envisaged by the Deputy.

The Government is committed to the timely implementation of the national development plan. Particular attention is being paid to delivery of the infrastructure investment in the plan. To this end, special arrangements have been put in place to monitor and drive delivery of this element of the plan. In particular, the Government has established a Cabinet Committee on Infrastructural Development, including public private partnerships, which is chaired by the Taoiseach. A cross departmental team of senior officials supports the Cabinet committee. This institutional structure provides a powerful means for addressing institutional, administrative and legal issues that might hinder deliverability of the NDP. For instance, the Planning and Development Act, 2000, includes provisions developed under the aegis of the Cabinet committee. Better project management in key implementing agencies has also been put into effect, which, for example, will lead to a reduction from five years to three and a half years in the period it takes to progress major road projects from conception to commencement on site. The Cabinet committee also receives regular progress reports from these agencies. In this context and in order to assist the committee's work, my Department has established a detailed NDP project tracking system, which will enable any emerging problems to be quickly identified and remedial action taken.

In addition, and as required under the Structural Funds regulations, responsibility for overseeing implementation of the NDP Operational Programmes, OPs, rests with the OP managing authorities reporting to the OP monitoring committees. This is being done in way which will mainstream the positive experience of managing and monitoring Structural Funds programmes. The managing authorities for each of the OPs are as follows:

NDP/CSF	Department of Finance
Economic and Social Infrastructure OP	Department of Environment and Local Government
Employment and Human Resources OP	Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Productive Sector OP	Department of Enterprise,Trade and Employment
S&E Regional OP	Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly
BMW Regional OP	Border, Midland & Western Regional Assembly
Peace OP	Special EU Programmes Body
Technical Assistance OP	Department of Finance

The various implementing bodies in each operational programme report physical and financial progress to the managing authority which in turns reports progress and, as appropriate, makes any proposals for reprogramming to the monitoring committee. The monitoring committee is responsible for taking reprogramming decisions in respect of cofinanced expenditure. It may make recommendations in respect of non-cofinanced expenditure. There is also a separate monitoring committee for the NDP/CSF with responsibility for taking decisions across programmes.

The monitoring committees for the OPs and NDP/CSF comprise, among others, representatives of the managing authorities, Departments, regional authorities, State bodies, each of the pillars of the social partnership and bodies representing the horizontal concerns of equality, poverty, the environment and rural development as well as, in an advisory capacity, the European Commission and the NDP/CSF evaluation and information units. The monitoring committees are an effective expression of public private partnership oversight of the plan.

As an integral part of its delivery, the plan also provides for the involvement of public private partnerships in the provision of infrastructural projects and these are being successfully developed. Three PPP competitions were initiated in 2000 and five more will be held in the current year. Eight new PPP toll projects have been with tender processes to start in the near future. Moreover, substantial progress has been made on four PPP pilot projects, Waterford bridge and by-pass, Kilcock/Kinnegad by-pass, Limerick southern ring road, phase 2, and the second West-link bridge on the M50. PPP projects are also being developed in environmental services and in the areas of education.

In addition, a framework for PPPs, which is a commitment of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, is near completion and discussions are currently under way on the standardization of PPP contracts, guidance notes and project documentation.