Public Expenditure Policy
Dail Éireann — 2026-05-28
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Jack Chambers (FF), Dublin West

I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 69 together. We agreed a medium-term fiscal and structural plan in December of last year that provides for significant uplifts and expenditure over the coming years with gross voted spending to reach €147.3 billion by 2030. The key element of the expenditure strategy underpinning the gross voted expenditure ceilings included in the plan was the prioritisation of capital with ceilings agreed as part of the NDP plan review and an additional increase in capital from 2028 onwards. Over €65 billion in capital investment has been delivered in the past five years out to 2025 and €19.1 billion was allocated for capital investment in budget 2026, which was an increase of €2.6 billion or nearly 16% over 2025. The capital ceiling will grow by a further €1.2 billion or 6.3% in 2027 to €20.3 billion. In total, the Government has committed €275 billion under the NDP from 2026 to 2035. We have published sectoral investment plans to deliver infrastructure at scale year after year. This can be achieved. This will strengthen co-ordination and build capacity in the construction sector.
The significant investment made by Government to deliver housing and fundamental infrastructure has been complemented by a considered programme of reform to address challenges within the infrastructure delivery ecosystem. The Government has already made significant efforts to orient itself towards infrastructure co-ordination delivery. The NDP review and sectoral investment plans are providing multi-annual funding certainty and a strong pipeline of projects. My Department has been tasked with identifying and addressing the most significant barriers to delivery. The infrastructure division in my Department has taken a stronger oversight and monitoring role for this action plan with all commitments by quarter 1 of 2026 fully delivered. This is a proactive role that allows my own Department to take action where barriers arise in the delivery of critical infrastructure programmes. We have published and brought the Critical Infrastructure Bill through the Dáil and it is now progressing in the Seanad. I can come back when I have further time but the figure of €446 million is all on current expenditure. We have completely protected capital expenditure lines so capital expenditure lines are not affected by the efficiency levy.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-05-28/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-21T01:01:08+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-28