Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 April 2018
92. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of staff allocated to the infrastructure projects office; the number anticipated by year end 2018; the allocated budget for 2018 and 2019, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18472/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the implementation of Project Ireland 2040, a number of actions are underway by my Department.
We have now established the high level Project Ireland 2040 Delivery Board, jointly chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Secretary General of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, to provide strategic leadership and direction to ensure the active management of the implementation of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and National Development Plan (NDP). The Delivery Board will drive and oversee the implementation across government of the NPF and NDP at a central ‘portfolio’ level to underpin effective financial control, efficiency and value-for-money of investment projects and programmes at departmental and agency level. The inaugural meeting of the Delivery Board will be held on 1 May.
Work is also progressing on updating the Major Projects Tracker, first published by my Department in 2017, to include all of the major infrastructure projects now included in the NDP.
My Department is also in the process of establishing the Construction Sector Working Group, committed to in the NDP, to ensure regular and open dialogue between Government and the construction sector. A healthy, sustainable, competitive and well-functioning construction industry which offers good long-term quality employment and construction output is essential to the achievement of the goals of the NPF and the delivery of the projects outlined in the National Development Plan. This Group will be chaired by the Secretary General of my Department.
My Department is also in the process of establishing the Investment Projects and Programmes Office committed to in the NDP, which will underpin the work of the Delivery Board by, for example:
- promoting a systematic and integrated whole-of-government approach to the implementation of the infrastructure projects and investment programmes detailed in the NDP in support of the NPF;
- ensuring that infrastructure projects and investment programmes are co-ordinated to optimise the delivery of shared strategic outcomes set out in both the NDP and NPF;
- developing the information systems required for the detailed monitoring and reporting of progress under the NDP;
- assessing the effectiveness on a periodic basis of project governance and project management methodologies employed by departments/agencies; and
- in the context of the current review of the Public Spending Code, driving reforms in relation to areas such as project appraisal and selection in particular those arising from the IMF Public Investment Management Assessment for Ireland published in September 2017.
My Department is also working with the relevant Departments to progress the design and development of plans for the establishment of the proposed National Regeneration and Development Agency and for the four new Funds, with a combined funding allocation of €4 billion that are provided for under the NDP.
I am not in a position to comment on staffing and budget implications of the Investment Projects and Programmes Office at this stage. Costs will be considered and incorporated in the 2019 estimates process for Budget 2019.
