Joe Flaherty
Ceist:31. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45714/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 23 September 2021
Ceisteanna (31)
Freagraí scríofa
The National Recovery and Resilience Plan will enable Ireland to access funding under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, which lies at the heart of the Union’s €800 billion NextGenerationEU recovery package.
The aim of NextGenerationEU is to help repair the immediate economic and social damage brought about by the pandemic and prepare for a post-Covid Europe that is greener, more digital, more resilient and fit to face the future.
The National Recovery and Resilience Plan has been developed by the Government in close cooperation with the European Commission, taking into account the RRF prioritisation of green and digital transition and the challenges identified as part of the European Semester process.
The Plan has a total value of €990 million. Its overall objective is to contribute to a sustainable, equitable, green and digital recovery, in a manner that complements and supports the Government’s broader recovery effort. It is aligned with domestic policies, notably the Economic Recovery Plan and the National Development Plan.
The Plan is based on twenty five investment projects and reform measures spanning three priority areas addressing green and digital transition, along with social and economic recovery and job creation.
Ireland’s draft Plan was submitted to the European Commission on 28 May 2021. On 16 July 2021 Commission President Ursula von der Leyen travelled to Dublin to present the Commission’s positive assessment of the Plan to the Taoiseach. The Plan was then considered by ECOFIN on 6 September 2021, and a Council Implementing Decision was adopted by written procedure on 8 September 2021.
On 21 September 2021 I met Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni to discuss our Plan and we both took part in an online stakeholder event hosted by the Institute of International and European Affairs.
Now that the Implementing Decision has been adopted by the Council, the Plan will be the subject of a Financing Agreement between the Commission and Ireland.