Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 April 2022
86. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department takes a macro view of the funding allocation across Departments to ensure fair distribution geographically. [21482/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs the Minister's Department taking a macro view of the funding allocation across Departments to ensure fair distribution geographically? I am particularly thinking of the funding streams announced for projects across one local authority. Where money is being invested, it is not being done evenly. I am sure the Minister is aware of the area I wish to discuss and is cognisant of the neglect of the northside of Cork city.
As part of the budgetary process each year, my Department sets overall expenditure ceilings for each ministerial Vote group. These are laid out at budget time in the expenditure report with further detail then provided in the Revised Estimates for public services.
Following allocation of each ministerial expenditure ceiling, it is a matter for each Minister to assign funding as appropriate at programme and subhead level for his or her Department and the agencies under its remit, taking into account the demands for services in different areas and regions and having regard to demographics and other relevant factors.
Regarding capital expenditure, the national development plan, NDP, out to 2030 is underpinned by ten national strategic outcomes. National strategic outcome No. 2, enhanced regional connectivity, seeks to enhance intraregional accessibility through improved transport links between key urban centres of population and their respective regions, as well as improving transport links between the regions themselves.
The Department of Transport launched the national investment framework for transport in Ireland, NIFTI, in late 2021, which sets out the prioritisation for future investment in the land transport network to support the delivery of the national planning framework, NPF. Investment in the regional and commuter bus fleet will continue with the purchase of up to 400 new vehicles. A strategic rail review was launched late last year, which will examine all aspects of the interurban and interregional rail network, including decarbonising the railway and the feasibility of higher speeds and increased capacity.
Under the NDP, the national roads programme will continue to provide for improved connectivity across the years out to 2030. Accordingly, there will be significant investment in the national road network across the next decade. A total of 31 specific national road projects were identified as priorities in the NDP. This is not an exhaustive list and these projects will progress through the relevant approval processes at different speeds, depending on the particular nature of the projects. Funding from within the available budget will then be provided as necessary.
In my further responses we can discuss the more local issues.
I am very proud to come from Knocknaheeny. The northside of Cork city is one of the best places in the world. We have brilliant communities with brilliant people, amazing history and huge potential. When I was elected to the Dáil, I gave a commitment to the people who elected me that I would fight to end the neglect of the northside. Part of this is making sure that when Government allocates funding, it is given out evenly and fairly. However, that is not what is happening. I have spoken to people in Departments, and when they have looked at the maps of the funding, they openly admit there is unfair distribution. My real concern is that we are now seeing patterns across Departments that the northside is not getting proper or equal funding. This is being allowed to happen and, as a result, the northside will not reach its potential. Does the Minister’s Department monitor this? What are the Minister and the Department doing to combat it? There is a duty on the Minister and this Government to ensure there is equal and fair distribution of funding.
If the Deputy examines the facts, this Government is delivering for the northside of Cork city. Indeed, it is delivering for all of Cork and there is a fair allocation of resources, looking at the investment from this Government that is now going into the northside across a range of areas, such as a number of housing schemes with which the Deputy will be very familiar, including in Knocknaheeny, investment in road infrastructure, investments we have announced in terms of public transport corridors and BusConnects, the additional investment in education we have put into the northside of Cork, such as the expansion of DEIS, for example, the investment that has taken place in St. Mary’s campus, and the investment in our sports clubs, with many of which the Deputy will be very familiar.
However, of course, we have to take a broader view of the northside. People do not just live in a silo. They avail of all of the services and facilities across our city. Take, for example, the docklands in Cork city. There is more than €400 million being invested in urban regeneration funding, some of which will be on the north side of the quays. Of course, we have the Cork-Limerick motorway project now, where an identified corridor has been published. That is just to give a very small flavour. There is the commuter rail project, which we prioritised as a Government, which will be of major benefit to the northside of Cork, including new train stations planned at Blarney, Blackpool and Tivoli. More than €180 million of European funding has been secured, and the northside of Cork city will be a key beneficiary of that. All of the evidence points to this Government’s record as being a strong one in delivering for the northside of the city.
I will give the Minister a couple of facts. On the regeneration announcement for Cork, of €405 million, not one penny is going to the northside. On sustainable transport funding, there are 66 projects; 31 in the southside and 12 in the northside. Nearly €16 million is being spent on the southside and less than €6 million on the northside. These are the Government’s figures. These are the facts I am talking about. On Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, grants, there is €2 million for Cork City Council, only €300,000 of which will go towards a look at the northern ring road.
The Minister and I live in Cork. I advise him to drive around Cork city with me and look at the road infrastructure on the southside. We have the Jack Lynch Tunnel connecting to the southern link road, and then you come to the northside. You come through that tunnel, you go up Silversprings to Tivoli and you are in the heart of the residential area of Mayfield.
I have loads of figures that prove my point. The northside is not getting adequate distribution. My final point is that if this Government is being fair to the northside, where is the funding for the northern ring road?
That is a case that perhaps could have been made in the past. I do not believe it is a case that stands up to scrutiny at this time.
These are the figures-----
It might suit the Deputy to adopt a narrow, divisive approach. It might suit him politically on the ground, but it is not accurate. He is not being fair to the people of the northside of Cork city in the way he has presented that area and community today, either in the south-----
The southern link road was built 20 years ago.
-----because the evidence-----
When will the northern link road be built?
Through the Chair.
If I can conclude without being interrupted, the evidence is this Government is prioritising investment in the northside of Cork city and across the whole area of the constituency, not just the city. The Deputy can look at Glanmire and the Glashaboy flood relief scheme, which was many years in the pipeline and is being delivered by this Government. We have included the northern ring road in the national development plan-----
Only €300,000.
-----and the Government is committed to advancing it. It has to go through a statutory process. As it goes through the process, the funding issue can then be met and funding can be made available. When the Deputy looks at the full range of housing, healthcare, road infrastructure, public transport, education, sports capital and community facilities, this is a Government that has been very good to the northside and will continue to be.
