Press release
Focus now on implementation of National Development Plan and securing value for money – Donohoe
From Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe TD, today (09 March 2018) announced a package of measures to ensure that the implementation of the National Development Plan is now prioritised across Government, and strongly focused on achieving value for money in terms of the €116 billion of public capital investment set out in the plan.
Project Ireland 2040 – the National Development Plan 2018-2027 (NDP) and the National Planning Framework – was launched by the Government on Friday 16 February 2018 in Sligo.
The NDP sets out a 10 year vision for Ireland’s public capital infrastructure priorities over the next 10 years, which is strictly aligned with the National Strategic Outcomes for Ireland’s new spatial strategy, which are contained in the NPF.
Attention is now turning to implementation of the NDP. Some key steps now being taken to drive implementation of the Plan, and the various important projects within it, are as follows:
The Delivery Board will monitor and oversee implementation structures and performance across the various sectors to ensure a co-ordinated and collaborative whole-of-government approach to NDP and NPF delivery
The minister said:
"Now that the NDP has been published, we are moving quickly to put in place arrangements to oversee its implementation and the delivery of the projects identified in the plan. I am today announcing the establishment of a high level Delivery Board to take on this role on behalf of the government.
"I am also establishing an Infrastructure Projects Office to work with the Delivery Board, and in particular to update and develop the Major Projects Tracker so that there will be full transparency on the status of the various projects.
"In addition, I am setting up a Construction Sector Working Group to facilitate dialogue between government and the construction industry on issues affecting delivery of the plan.
“These initiatives will play a major role in driving delivery of the NDP by strengthening the institutional framework for public capital investment in Ireland, and helping ensure that the substantial amount of public capital investment in the NDP is used efficiently and effectively, and on a value-for-money basis.”
ENDS
Project Ireland 2040 comprises two parts:
Funding the Investment
Project Ireland 2040 involves investment in infrastructure of almost €116 billion in the ten years to 2027. This combines €91 billion directly from the exchequer, as well as nearly €25 billion by state-owned commercial companies.
Public capital investment will therefore move from relatively low levels in recent years as a result of the economic crisis, to being amongst the highest in the EU (as a percentage of national income). This will allow us to respond to the obvious deficits in our infrastructure, as well as the needs of a fast-growing population.
The average capital investment in the EU over the last 20 years was in the region of 3% of national income. Under the National Development Plan it is projected that public capital investment will reach 3.8% of national income (GNI*) in 2021 and 4% by 2024, with sustained investment averaging 4% on an annual basis over the period 2022 to 2027. This increased investment is being done in a prudent and measured way. It takes account of the external uncertainties facing the Irish economy, as well as the risks of overheating.
Ten Strategic Outcomes of Project Ireland 2040
Project Ireland 2040 seeks to achieve ten strategic outcomes, building around the themes of wellbeing, equality and opportunity. These ten shared priorities will ensure a consistent approach between planning objectives under the National Planning Framework and investment commitments under the National Development Plan.