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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 28 Nov 2001

Vol. 545 No. 2

Written Answers. - National Development Plan.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

105 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if he is monitoring the progress of the national development plan to date; if the plan will proceed on target; his plans or proposals in the event of failure to meet target deadlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30193/01]

The national development plan is a seven year plan which is being delivered through seven operational programmes. The managing authorities for the operational programmes are as follows:

NDP/CSF

Department of Finance

Economic and social infrastructure operational programme

Department of Environment and Local Government

Employment and human resources operational programme

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Productive sector operational programme

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Southern and eastern regional operational programme

Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly

Border, midlands and west regional operational programme

Border, Midland and Western Regional Assembly

Peace operational programme

Special EU programmes body

Technical assistance operational programme

Department of Finance

Progress in each operational programme is monitored by a monitoring committee comprised of representatives of the Departments which implement the programme measures, the Department of Finance, the four social partners pillars, the regional assemblies and the European Commission. The monitoring committee is chaired by the managing authorities, which provide secretarial support. There is also a separate monitoring committee for the national development plan and community support framework for Ireland, 2000-2006, chaired by the Department of Finance, which monitors progress across all operational programmes. A Cabinet committee on infrastructure and public private partnerships, chaired by the Taoiseach, has been established to monitor the progress on the implementation of the NDP infrastructure programme. It is assisted in its work by a cross-departmental team of senior officials.
Apart from the elaborate formal monitoring arrangements referred to above, there is ongoing contact between Departments and implementing agencies regarding the implementation of the plan. Over a seven year plan of the scale and ambition of the NDP, projects and programmes may, for various reasons, proceed at a different pace than originally foreseen. I am generally satisfied with the progress to date, especially in the key area of infrastructure. Progress will continue to be the subject of ongoing monitoring and there will be a comprehensive mid-term review of the progress of the plan in 2003.
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