In response to Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, we have committed that any additional revenues we raise, whether from a windfall tax, a solidarity contribution from companies in the renewables sector, which companies have done very well owing to how energy is priced, and also from fossil fuel companies, will be provided by way of additional supports to communities, households and businesses. Several Departments are currently working to scope out the impact of the measures that have been agreed at EU level. That work …

At the outset, it should be noted that my Department, in carrying out its role in co-ordinating the national development plan, NDP, review, does not consider the merit of individual projects or sectoral policy strategies, as this is primarily a matter for individual Departments and agencies. National strategic objective, NSO, 8 seeks the transition to a climate-neutral and climate-resilient society. The next ten years are critical in order to address the climate crisis, and we have significantly stepped up our clim…

The important point to make is that the funding that has been provided represents an enormous opportunity for local authorities all over Ireland. The Deputy is correct in saying that there have been underspends across some local authority areas. To be fair, it can take time to build up the capacity to deliver certain projects and to get them through the various planning approval processes. The allocation of €360 million every year will support 1,000 km of new and improved walking and cycling infrastructure by 2025,…

It certainly is a wonderful beach. It is a real gem in west Cork. I am happy to work with Deputy O'Sullivan and the elected members of Cork County Council to advance the project because it would be hugely exciting if we were in a position to develop a safe pedestrian and cycling access between Clonakilty and Inchydoney. The returns that are made by local authorities are available, so we will get access to the records. It is important that everyone is held accountable for their use or non-use of public money, as the…

My role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform involves setting the allocations for capital expenditure across a number of Departments relevant to this NSO. This objective, as the Deputy knows, seeks to strengthen rural economies and communities. It applies to the traditional pillars of the rural economy as well as those emerging from such developments as improved transport connectivity, national broadband delivery, climate action and rural economic development. The sectoral strategies here include some impo…

That is an especially exciting project in Charleville and I was pleased to see it at first hand. I understand it will see the renovation of a number of vacant and derelict buildings in the heart of the town. Charleville courthouse will be renovated into a remote working hub and a currently vacant heritage building on Chapel Street will be converted into a new arts and community centre. In addition, an old HSE building in the town will be converted into the new home of the men's shed and the local snooker club. I ag…

I assure the Deputy that as a Government we recognise the importance and centrality of good broadband connectivity in rural Ireland. It is the great enabler in so many respects. In a post-Covid - if I can use that phrase - environment of remote and hybrid working, there are huge opportunities for towns and villages all over Ireland. The Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, as the line Minister with responsibility for the national broadband plan, has very regular engagement with all of the key stakeholders, inclu…

As the Deputy is aware, my Department is responsible for allocating public funds across each area of Government spending and ensuring that expenditure is managed in line with these allocations by Departments. The National Development Plan 2021-2030, published last year, demonstrates the Government’s commitment to meeting Ireland’s infrastructure and investment needs over the medium-term horizon. The NDP provides €165 billion in public capital funding alongside a detailed and positive vision for Ireland up to 2030 a…

I thank the Deputy. I certainly will. It is an important part of our ongoing work. It is true to say that so far this year we have a significant underspend in capital. I think that will continue to year-end although it is difficult to predict what the precise amount will be. We will certainly have a substantial carry-forward of unspent capital this year into 2023. I am working very closely with colleagues to make sure that we streamline the process as best we can. There is a balance to be struck between having an a…

Given the amount of ambition and indeed the need that is there across our country for investment in all of the areas I have already mentioned and others, we do have to make sure we deliver. It is about delivery. The budget is in place. We are at almost a unique point in our history where when it comes to capital expenditure, funding is not the greatest constraint. The greatest constraint is the capacity to deliver. That can manifest itself in a number of ways. We have to strike the right balance, ensuring that we h…

I thank the Deputy for the consistent and personal interest he has taken in the PEACE PLUS programme, which is so important to the Border counties and Northern Ireland. I am pleased that this new cross-Border programme is at its final stage of development as a successor to the EU's INTERREG and peace programmes. With an unprecedented funding allocation of some €1.1 billion, PEACE PLUS will support shared peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the Border counties over the remainder of this decade. The draf…

That is a crucial point because there is a lot of human capital and a great deal of experience and expertise within the system - the SEUPB and the local authorities - and we need to protect and harness that. I had an opportunity on two occasions earlier this year to visit Northern Ireland and different projects that received funding under INTERREG 5A and PEACE IV. I visited Belfast in March and Derry in June, where I saw up close the transport hub and the Waterside shared village project. There are so many exciting…

I propose to take Nos. 11 and 245 together. Total gross voted expenditure to the end of October amounted to €66.531 billion, which is €80 million, or 0.1%, below profile overall. Gross voted current expenditure of €61.055 billion is €1.262 billion, or 2.1%, ahead of profile. Gross voted capital expenditure of €5.476 billion is €1.342 billion, or almost 20%, below profile. There have been a number of developments this year which have an impact on the level of current expenditure. These include the extension of the B…

I reassure the Deputy and the House that we will always provide the resources necessary to respond to emergencies. Be it a flooding event or any other major humanitarian issue that arises, we will always step in and provide the necessary support. In adopting budget 2023 we have a strong fiscal framework and we are projecting a significant surplus next year. As the Deputy knows, we are in a position to put €6 billion into a national reserve between now and the end of next year. While there are undoubtedly global eco…

This Government has acknowledged from the very beginning the scale of the challenge we face as a country in housing and the provision of accommodation for our people, whether it is private housing, public housing, cost rental or affordable purchase. We have prioritised investment in housing since coming into office in the summer of 2020. That is delivering results. Do we believe that more needs to be done? Absolutely. The challenge is still immense but it is a challenge we will meet. The overall target by way of ho…

-----because thousands of people are being provided with accommodation in our country as a result of the investment we are making. In addition, we are investing in affordable housing for the first time in well over a decade, including new affordable purchase schemes which Sinn Féin opposed. The Land Development Agency is now on site and is delivering homes for our people, both public housing and cost rental homes. Again, Sinn Féin opposed the establishment of the agency. We also have the help-to-buy scheme, which i…

There is no €2 billion in capital underspend on housing. As the Deputy knows, it is always the case that the final quarter of the year is the period in which there is the largest delivery. That is when schemes get closed out, accounts get done and drawdown of payments happens. There will be no such underspend in respect of housing capital this year. Any underspend, as the Deputy knows, is subject to a carry-forward provision whereby it can be carried forward, subject to an overall rule in respect of 10% of the ceil…

On this side of the House we are focused on doing everything we possibly can to resolve it-----

-----and to ensure that people who want to purchase a home are given direct support by the State to do so.

I thank Deputy Bacik for raising this issue, which is significant for our country and the planet. By now, the Taoiseach will have delivered his speech at Sharm el-Sheikh. I think he summed up very well the imperative of action and delivery. This is something he has pinpointed as being the key issue. Ireland has made significant progress in terms of the overall framework, putting legislation in place, the adoption of the climate action plan, the carbon budget and the sectoral emissions ceilings. A new climate action…