Rural call for detail on National Development Plan review
Sinn Féin TD, Mairéad Farrell has criticised the government's decision to commence a review of the National Development Plan (NDP).
Last week, Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP delivery and Reform, Jack Chambers confirmed that his department will commence the review, which will be completed in July 2025.
Deputy Farrell is concerned that the review is a case of "politics of announcements", where the government "give us these announcements, and nothing actually changes".
She said: "We’re talking about infrastructure in rural Ireland, and in the west of Ireland. We’re investing in basic, basic infrastructure that we all need in order to be able to live in the west of Ireland.
"Is this just another announcement so they get a headline, rather than a substantive piece of work?"
According to the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR), the review will cover all public capital investment to 2035 and will include exchequer funds, the Apple escrow funds, the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund, and proceeds of the AIB share sales.
The department said a particular focus is to increase investment to support housing delivery and competitiveness by prioritising growth-enhancing infrastructure such as energy grid capacity, water supply, transport connectivity, and health digitalisation.
The review of the NDP will also include a climate assessment of any programmes receiving funding.
Deputy Farrell believes "there is no clarity" about the review, or the government's reasons for doing it.
According to the Galway West TD, the existing Construction Sector Group (CSG) is supposed to be investing in infrastructure.
She said: "We had this Construction Sector Group (CSG), that was supposed to be investing in infrastructure. So why is there a need for a new taskforce? What was wrong with the previous taskforce? Did it not work?
"If you go onto the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s website, the link is not found to CSG.
"I know these things will take serious investment, and it will take time, it’s not like anyone is expecting this to change overnight.
"A bit of transparency in relation to how this is operating, why there was a need for a new taskforce, the stakeholders involved, why stakeholders couldn’t have been brought into the CSG? It’s the lack of clarity."
Farrell said that the government needs to consult with the impacted stakeholders as part of the review.
"At the end of the day, the people impacted by the lack of infrastructure, the people living in the areas, they know what’s missing. There needs to be proper consultation.
"Because Jack Chambers has just brought this memo to cabinet, there is no clarity as to what it’s actually going to do."
The South Leinster chairperson of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) Paul O'Brien told Agriland he believes that stakeholders, like farmers, should be consulted.
He said: "Even in the past few weeks, the IFA has worked with public utilities and have come to agreements. We should be involved in the consultation, and allowed to bring the knowledge of the farmer to the table."
