I assume the Deputy's question refers to the Public Investment Management Assessment (PIMA) which is being carried out by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in July. The possibility of undertaking a PIMA study was raised with me by the IMF during my visit to Washington earlier this year, in the context of a discussion on capital planning in Ireland.
An IMF PIMA evaluates the design and effectiveness of the institutions that shape decision-making at the three key stages of the public investment cycle: planning investment; allocating investment to the right sectors; and implementing investment. The IMF have carried out 17 such assessments to date which are available on the IMFs website www.imf.org. The PIMA for Ireland will be specifically tailored to Ireland's particular needs and will include a focus on, for example,
- A review of our planning and delivery mechanisms and the mechanisms for co-ordinated planning of infrastructural provision across sectors.
- A benchmarking of Ireland's infrastructure by reference to that of other comparable developed countries drawing on the relevant IMF data; and
- An assessment of PPPs and public investment management in State owned entities.
The findings of the PIMA are expected to play an important role in identifying how institutions and public governance systems in Ireland responsible for and related to planning, allocating and delivering public capital infrastructure might be further strengthened. The PIMA dovetails with the ongoing mid-term review of the Capital Plan. The assessment will contribute to the analysis of the systems in place for planning, allocating and delivering future infrastructure priorities, in the context of the preparation of a new long-term Capital Plan to be published later this year.
The full cost of commissioning the report is being borne by the IMF. The PIMA Mission to Ireland is scheduled for 6 to 19 July. The PIMA report will be provided to my Department at the end of the mission and is currently expected to be published later this year as an important input and supporting document to the new 10 year Capital Plan.