Vol. 1062 No. 8
61. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform his plans to improve the quality of infrastructure in the west of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5052/25]
Tá sé feicthe againn le coicís anois cé chomh dona is atá an buninfreastuchtúr san iarthar agus i leithéidí Chonamara. We have seen the lack of good quality infrastructure across the west, and particularly in Connemara, over the past two weeks. The Minister has responsibility for infrastructure. What are his plans are to improve the quality of infrastructure in the west?
As Minister for public expenditure, I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at departmental level. Responsibility for the management and delivery of individual investment projects or sectoral policy strategies, within the allocations agreed under the national development plan, NDP, rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case. Each Minister is also responsible for deciding on the priority programmes and projects, which they can bring to Government. That will be delivered under their remit within the national development plan and for setting out the timelines for delivery. Expenditure is, therefore, allocated and monitored on a departmental basis.
In budget 2025, almost €15 billion was made available from the Exchequer for investment in public capital projects, along with €3 billion in funds from the sale of the State's shareholding in AIB in June 2024. This level of expenditure is pivotal in consolidating the progress already made and in supporting balanced regional development to address key infrastructural bottlenecks more rapidly, and lead to further improvements in living standards and competitiveness.
Additionally, the recently agreed programme for Government sets out that the Government will prioritise an early review of the NDP, which will be completed in July 2025. The review of this will encompass all public capital investment and will utilise State funds to support increased capital investment levels, including in the west which is centrally important to overall infrastructure development.
This review will build on recent actions to improve delivery, including the publication of infrastructure guidance which replaced the public spending code on 1 January 2024. These set the value-for-money guidance for evaluating, planning and managing Exchequer-funded capital projects. It is a significant policy development that allows Departments greater freedom to pursue the delivery of their priority projects. It is also intended to ensure quality delivery can be achieved by agencies without causing undue delays which may impact on projects costs and timelines.
I have information on the north west and the west in terms of overall data on infrastructure to which I can return in my next contribution.
Mar gheall go raibh an tAire ina Aire Stáit le freagracht as an nGaeltacht, tá a fhios agam go dtuigeann sé go maith an easpa infreastruchtúir atá i gConamara. I know, from the Deputy Chambers' time as Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, he travelled around the Gaeltacht areas. He travelled extensively around Connemara. That gives the Minister good insight as to the real issues in terms of that basic infrastructure piece in Connemara.
People have now been almost two weeks without access to telecommunications. They are being told that they do not even have a date as to when their broadband and telephone lines will be restored. That is ridiculous. This is not the first time it has happened. It also happened in November. It happened for two to three weeks in parts of Connemara as well.
What I want to see, and what I hope the Minister will take seriously - I think he will - is investment in buninfreastuchtúr or basic infrastructure, that is, the telephone poles, the masts, etc. Serious investment is needed. It will take a long time. Such investment will give rise to a longer term gain, but we need to have a plan in place. Will the Minister he be putting a plan in place for that?
From my previous role as Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, I am aware of the absolute need for infrastructure development to unlock economic development in the Gaeltacht region in the context of jobs, etc. I am aware of the difficulties that have been experienced by many residents as a result of the recent storm and, indeed, other storms during the winter period.
There has been ongoing engagement across Government on the consequences and on how some of the communications networks collapsed or were seriously impacted upon. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, has been engaging on that matter. Separately, we are aware of the need to ensure that there is greater resilience across the infrastructure network from an energy perspective - the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is co-ordinating in that regard - and our communications networks. Building greater resilience among communications and emergency networks is central for the future, particularly in light of emerging and changing weather patterns. We must also ensure that we have continued investment in the road and public transport networks. This will be the subject of a new ambition and focus on the part of Government in the context of the NDP review and the need to give an uplift to investment for the west and the north west.
I thank the Minister. The review of the NDP is something I will contribute to.
I hear what the Minister is saying. We need investment in roads. We need investment in public transport as well across the areas in question. When I am talking about basic infrastructure, I mean those 38 KV lines and the lines that run directly into people's homes. Everything is crumbling. If the Minister travels across Connemara, he will see poles split in half. From when the original damage happened in November, there are still lines lying across the ground that have not been fixed. There is a massive amount of work that needs to be done, specifically in respect of simple things such as replacing or repairing poles. There are things that we need to look at.
With the weather changing, things will become increasingly difficult. During Storm Darragh, what happened was that some of the poles fell and some of the wires fell also. It was just a little bit of snow. It was not a horrendous amount, but it managed to stop all telecommunications for a two-week period. Can the Minister, who sits at Cabinet, prioritise ensuring that there is an investigation into why the 999 call system was not working and that this does not happen again?
I thank the Deputy. As already stated, the Minister, Deputy Calleary, is engaging directly in respect of communications infrastructure and on the need to ensure greater resilience in our communications networks. That is something that is being pursued. Similarly, when it comes to our energy infrastructure, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is directly engaging with the semi-State agencies and the regulators in order that we can build greater resilience into that infrastructure.
I am aware that concerns have been raised with TETRA Ireland. The particular consequences there were most acute in the direct aftermath of the storm. Officials in my Department have been engaging on that. I can send the Deputy a note on that specific matter. How that particular communications infrastructure was affected during the storm is a matter of concern to many people in the west and north west, particularly as certain people were put at risk. I acknowledge that this needs to be corrected for the future.
62. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform how he plans to ensure that the OPW and its structures deliver best value for money outcomes on all projects; the timeline for the completion of any proposed reforms in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5404/25]
I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, back to the Dáil and congratulate him on his appointment. I look forward to working with the Minister of State in order to hold him to account but also to ensure progress in his Department in the context of what is an important role.
There is reference in the programme for Government to ensuring that "the Office of Public Works (OPW) and its structures deliver best value for money outcomes on all projects". Will the Minister of State indicate precisely what he means by that and by a timeframe for the completion of that project?
I thank the Deputy for his kind words. The OPW has responsibility on behalf of the State for managing and maintaining a substantial and complex estate - comprising approximately 2,500 properties - including office buildings, Garda properties, heritage properties, visitor centres and national monuments. The OPW also has responsibility for the funding and delivery of flood relief projects across the country and works with local authorities on the delivery of these schemes.
The OPW endeavours to ensure best value for money outcomes on all projects under its management. All contracts are subject to approval, monitoring and audit to ensure that value for money is being achieved throughout the procurement and delivery process. The OPW follows public procurement best practice in respect of the large spend under its remit. This includes the use of the Office of Government Procurement framework agreements, as well as establishing its own frameworks to achieve the most economic outcomes for the delivery of cost savings. These are advertised in eTenders.ie, following the public spending code, infrastructure guidelines to ensure the necessary project appraisals are conducted.
In order to address the concerns raised on the delivery of the covered bicycle shelter project in Leinster House, the OPW is finalising guidance for its staff on the approval and oversight of capital projects where the total expected expenditure is anticipated to be less than €500,000. This guidance covers the decision-making processes and the documentation required to inform supporting these decisions. The purpose of this guidance is to support efficient project delivery, within budget, in alignment with OPW’s strategic objectives and in support of programme for Government priorities. This guidance will further enhance effective and timely management, adhering to governance and compliance standards to support the oversight of these projects. The guidance will be regularly reviewed to ensure its relevance and alignment with OPW’s evolving needs. I am advised that the guidance will be finalised and in place within the next four to five weeks.
I thank the Minister of State. We know, and I will not recount, the different overspends around OPW projects that have been interrogated by the media, and indeed in this House, during the last period.
The OPW is a very proud organisation with a long track record of achievement throughout the entirety of the history of the State. I do not want to see the OPW, its staff and the work it does to become a watchword for waste. There has been a fair degree of opportunism about various projects around these Houses, quite frankly. That being said, that is not to say the criticisms were wrong. Accountability is important when it comes to public expenditure.
I note the Minister of State's comments on the introduction of new guidance on expenditure and the roles and responsibilities of officials at certain levels in terms of governance of projects below a certain level. I would rather talk about rules, regulations and accountability rather than guidance, because guidance is missing the point. We do not do accountability properly in this country. That has been shown in stark relief by the way in which issues around overspends and lack of compliance with governance has been handled to date.
When the Deputy states I have introduced guidance, I am quite happy with that given that I am only two weeks in the job. I am quite happy to state that in four to five weeks we will be moving and changing how we do things. I am happy to say we get value for money. I went into government. I could have sat on the Opposition benches. I came into government to make changes. I know what it is to make a euro. I know what it is to spend a euro. I also know accountability is very much to the forefront of Government and for the Taoiseach. Accountability and value for money were very much across all of our negotiations during the programme for Government. It was the same for my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Chambers, last week. I believe in that and I believe in the OPW. I believe in the work it does. I believe in the vast majority of projects that come in on budget and on time. I am happy to say that we will see changes going forward due to the guidance I will put in place during the next four to five weeks.
I look forward to seeing that guidance. I assume it will be published and made available to Members of the House because it is important in respect of accountability and transparency in State organisations, and governance, more generally. This morning, and during the past 24 hours, there was a separate matter to do with the public spending code - the outrageous overspend on an IT project in the Arts Council. It is symptomatic of a wider problem across the system. I do not want to feed into any kind of anti-public sector agenda out there. I would be the last person to do that. By and large, in the Minister of State's own Department, and in the OPW, it manages 2,500 properties. The organisation does a remarkably good job and has consistently done so over the years. However, there are issues in relation to the public spending code, compliance and governance as was highlighted by the outrageous situation in the Arts Council, which was overseen by the Department of arts. They have questions to answer as well.
The Minister of State mentioned in an article in the Mail on Sunday that, in his view, the OPW has a brand issue. What does he mean by that and how does he intend to-----
Sorry?
It has a brand issue, there is an issue with the OPW brand. The Minister of State said in an article in the Mail on Sunday he wants to rebuild the brand. What does he mean by that?
As stated at the outset, I meant quite clearly that the OPW does very good work. I want to continue with that work and I want to promote the brand and what I believe the OPW stands for. When we talk about some of the articles in the newspaper last week about the overrunning projects, when we go to some of these sites - heritage sites or old buildings-----
It is complicated.
----- and take off the roof - it could be a slate, glass or copper roof - the naked eye cannot see what is underneath when it comes to pricing it up. There can be other problems and issues. If I, or my predecessor, had turned around and stopped that project because it was going into an overspend, I would have Deputies in this House asking why there was a delay on this project and what was keeping it from being done. We did what we did in the best interest of getting that project up and running and we will continue to work. I put a huge emphasis on delivering value for money going forward in the guidance I have put in place.
63. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for an update on his new proposed legislation on super junior Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5054/25]
This question follows our discussions last night on the Minister's proposed legislation on super junior Ministers and on increasing their number. Will the Minister give an update on that? The legislation was railroaded through last night and the same thing looks set to be done today in the Seanad.
I thank the Deputy. We had an extensive discussion on this yesterday evening. The purpose of the Ministers and Secretaries and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Bill 2025 is to give effect to the decision by Government to increase the maximum number of Ministers of State from 20 to 23. This number has remained unchanged for the past 18 years, since 2007, when it increased from 17 to 20. The Bill also reflects the increased numbers of Ministers of State attending Cabinet, which is being extended to four. At the moment, a maximum of three Ministers of State may receive the allowance for attending Cabinet.
The draft of that Bill was published on Thursday, 6 February. A number of proposed amendments were received by Friday, 7 February. As the Deputy will be aware, we discussed the amendments in the Dáil yesterday evening and the Bill is due to be debated in the Seanad at - I think - 12.15 p.m. today. That is the update.
I said last night and will say again that the Bill was railroaded through the Dáil yesterday. It was, again, jobs for the boys, and mercs and perks. What sickens me is the fact we are always told that things cannot be done overnight but things can be done overnight when it means certain people get more perks, money and all of that. When we see the types of crises we have and the type of waste of public money that the previous Government, and this Government, have engaged in, it is absolutely outrageous.
We were very clear last night we are totally opposed to this Bill. We will make that very clear again today in the Seanad. Out of interest, what legal advice did the Minister get on this? Did he seek independent legal advice on this? We know there are two cases before the High Court at the moment. What legal advice did the Minister get and what did it state?
The Attorney General provides all of the legal advice to the Government and is leading the defence of the specific cases raised by the Deputy. The Government is defending the particular cases so that matter will evolve in the courts.
As I said yesterday, we can consider a number of other jurisdictions, such as Finland, where there are 19 Ministries, with a minister or secretary of state underpinning each, or New Zealand, where there are 20 ministers and ministers of state. Many jurisdictions of similar size and similar population to Ireland have a similar number of Ministers of State. This is to reflect three specific roles and responsibilities that are being prioritised. There is a Minister of State for the marine. We heard from Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher about the importance of that specific role in fishing communities. It was welcomed by Sinn Féin's spokesperson on finance. Deputy Farrell has not identified what role she would remove in order to introduce that Minister of State. Perhaps she can enlighten the House about what Minister of State she would drop to allow for a Minister of State for the marine, which she has welcomed.
I do not think the Minister answered my question from last night when I asked which super junior Minister would be impacted by the legislation. If only three were being allowed, which super junior Minister was not getting the full whack money if he or she was the fourth super junior Minister? Maybe the Minister can enlighten us on that. He is missing the point here. He is talking about what is happening in other countries. We can agree or disagree on that. We can have that argument. The point here is that if the Minister believes so strongly that this needs to happen, why does he not ask the people? The Constitution is clear about Cabinet confidentiality, the 15 Ministers in Cabinet and all that. If the Minister feels that strongly about it and really believes it, then he should go to the people and ask them. Why is the Government making this decision and railroading it through the Dáil? We have two cases going forward. The prudent thing to do would be to see what comes out of them before bringing this legislation through the Dáil.
The legislation that is currently progressing through the Oireachtas is distinct and different from the specific constitutional questions that are the subject of the two judicial review cases before the High Court. They are being fully defended by the Attorney General. The practice and procedure over many decades has been the attendance at Cabinet of Ministers of State. The constitutionality of that continued practice is being fully defended by the Government and the Attorney General. The legislation that is before us is distinct from that. It relates to additional Ministers of State with new areas of priority and new responsibilities. Sinn Féin's election manifesto reflects the appointment of extra Ministers of State with additional areas of responsibility and priority. It would be interesting to see which Minister of State Sinn Féin would remove in order to allow for the appointment of the Ministers of State it has suggested appointing, because it has not been clear on that and did not refer to any reduction in the number of Ministers of State in its manifesto or which ones it would drop to allow for the those it suggests should be appointed, which it is entitled to do. In that context, it would be interesting to see which Ministers of State Deputy Farrell would remove.
64. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if reported plans (details supplied) to cease cost-of-living supports and payments in budget 2026 will be benchmarked against a reduction in the cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5420/25]
I was deeply concerned and dismayed by reports in the media that the Government is planning to completely axe cost-of-living supports without any indication being offered about this being tied to evidence of a reduction in the cost of living. I am seeking clarity on the matter. Will any cessation of cost-of-living supports and payments in the next budget, as reported, be benchmarked against a reduction in the cost of living?
The inflationary shock which started in 2022 was the most significant episode of inflation experienced in Ireland since the mid-1980s. Aware of the challenges that inflation posed for households and businesses, Government provided a series of temporary and permanent cost-of-living packages. The purpose of the supports was to ameliorate the exceptionally high energy bills that were a result of market volatility through one-off energy credits and to offer temporary, targeted financial support to households and businesses while permanent income caught up to higher prices. Government adopted a two-pronged fiscal policy to allow a responsive approach to key economic and social challenges. The policy of separating temporary and permanent spending had three main objectives. First, it ensured the adequate provision of supports for external challenges while continuing investment in core public services. Second, it provided transparency on the costs of responding to external challenges. Third, it allowed funding to be provided for specific, temporary purposes that can be withdrawn when no longer needed.
Since 2022, consumer price inflation has fallen significantly and consistently. Headline inflation has been below the target rate of 2% since August last year. The consumer price index and harmonised index of consumer prices reveal a significant stabilisation in consumer prices, with the growth rate down to 1% and 1.4%, respectively, in December 2024. The Government has not announced or committed to any further temporary cost-of-living packages. While the Exchequer finds itself in a favourable position, recent global developments will bring with them a level of uncertainty that will require a planned and strategic approach to investment to ensure our fiscal position remains sustainable. In addition, requirements under EU fiscal rules will necessitate the development of a five-year medium-term expenditure strategy, with no differentiation between permanent and temporary measures.
I assure the Deputy that in the context of budget 2026, the Government will give full consideration to that wider inflationary outlook and if it changes, and the most appropriate mechanisms to target and support household living standards. In line with the standard procedures, these will be matters discussed as part of the annual Estimates process.
I thank the Minister for his answer. While he detailed many different economic terms, I am not hearing about the real day-to-day experience of people whose cost-of-living challenges are forcing them to choose between heat and food, to make very difficult decisions and to live with the stress of these kinds of announcements that come from Government with very little regard for their existence. I would love to hear if there are any benchmarks against standard-of-living indicators or a well-being index. Will equality budgeting be properly enforced in budget 2026 in order that these measures will not just be measured against an economic outlook but also against the cost of living that households experience day to day? The Minister talked about electricity credits. In the wake of Storm Éowyn, it seems clear that the Government has become aware of a likely increase in electricity costs. Will that be mitigated by cost-of-living measures?
As stated, we will have a planned approach to this in the context of 2026. In every budget, we publish a distributional analysis. There is a consideration of well-being. A whole range of indices are published by the Departments of Finance and public expenditure. We have committed ourselves to progressive budgeting over the next number of years. We are also committing ourselves to returning to a more standard budgetary process, which is done in parallel with a medium-term fiscal plan, which we have to submit to the European Commission to have that anchor of fiscal discipline. There will be broader discussion on that in advance of the summer period, when we have the summer economic statement and the medium-term fiscal plan. In the decisions we took through the inflationary crisis, there was progressivity at the core, including in the double payments for many specific social welfare payments, like foster carer's allowance, the carer's support grant, the disability allowance, the blind pension, the invalidity pension and the domiciliary care allowance. We are cognisant of the need to target supports. A significant social protection package will be developed within the envelope that is available in budget 2026. Much of that will be to support the families and households to which the Deputy referred.
The word "progressive" was used, yet the measures such as electricity credits that we saw in the past few years were not targeted. If that is what the Government believes to be a progressive measure, then it needs to look at it again. We welcome better targeted measures. Those electricity credits, while important, should be better targeted to assist those families who most need them. I would also like clarity, before we finish, on the additional range of payments which might be impacted. It seemed clear from the statement that the cost-of-living supports and payments will not be continued. I would also like to ask about additional payments of child benefit, disability allowance, fuel allowance and tax credits for renters. Are they also on the slate for being cut?
The Deputy is taking a very negative stance on cuts. Thankfully, we are in a position whereby we are running a budgetary surplus. We will be in a position by means of budget 2026, the summer economic statement and the medium-term fiscal plan to provide additional supports, but through a more regular budgetary process. That means an envelope and support when it comes to the social protection budget, for example. The Deputy referred to energy credits. Perhaps the Social Democrats are opposed to electricity credits.
That is fine and that is their position.
No, we support more progressive measures.
The Social Democrats say they are opposed to energy credits, so it is interesting. A lot of the measures we introduced last year were targeted, like the living alone allowance and the qualified child increment lump sum and the working family payment. Some of the progressive measures I introduced with the additional tax credits, for example, were very much targeted at many vulnerable people in our society. That will all be considered in the context of budget 2026. As I have said, progressivity and the distributional analysis will be at the core of how we frame the wider budgetary process. We want to get back to a point where it is done through the normal budget and not through ad hoc changes through the year.
65. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the way the OPW ensures that buildings they are responsible for are using blocks that are free from deleterious materials in construction projects in County Donegal; if they have checked existing buildings for the presence of same. [6116/25]
Will the OPW ensure that buildings it is responsible for in construction projects in County Donegal are using blocks that are free from the deleterious materials, and has it checked existing buildings for the presence of these same materials?
The OPW ensures the quality of the concrete blockwork used in all its building projects complies with the European standard for masonry blockwork. This requires that the manufacturer shall supply a certificate with each delivery of concrete blocks stating the date of manufacture and that the blocks comply with all the requirements of the standard. It includes a declaration of performance and a European certificate marking and is in accordance with the technical guidance documents. Where a building shows cracks that may be consistent with the presence of a deleterious material, an inspection is carried out by a suitably qualified engineer. Appropriate sampling and testing may be carried out as required on a case by case basis. There are no buildings under the responsibility of the OPW in Donegal that have been identified to have this issue, to the best of my knowledge.
There are buildings with this in Donegal. I am asking exactly what testing procedures are being carried out. There are buildings affected throughout Donegal. There are leisure centres, creches and public buildings affected with this defective concrete. I ask the Minister of State to look into this and come to the realisation that 40% of creches in Donegal are affected. There are public buildings throughout the county, and it is going into other counties too.
The Deputy asked me about OPW buildings, and I identified not to my knowledge. If the Deputy has knowledge of buildings that are showing signs, he should let me know and we will follow them up. At present, according to what I have in front of me, we do not. However, I assure him that if he comes to me with that, I will take it up.
Does the OPW have a plan in place if a building is identified? What will it do to protect people using these buildings? In Letterkenny, for example, there is a leisure centre that serves thousands of people. If that building is identified, what action will it take to address this?
If a building shows signs, then an engineer is assigned and a safety measure is put in place, but as I said at the outset, to the best of my knowledge we have no buildings in Donegal, and I have nothing in front of me to tell me we have. There is no point in me saying what we are or are not going to do if we do not have buildings with the affected blocks. I ask the Deputy to come back to me.
I will come back to the Minister of State.
