Minister Donohoe publishes Project Ireland 2040 Annual Reports for 2023 at Naas Library and Cultural Centre

The Minister for Public Expenditure National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, has today 17, September, 2024 published the Project Ireland 2040 Annual Report for 2023 during a visit to Naas Library and Cultural Centre. The report highlights the delivery of publicly-funded capital projects throughout the country last year. Accompanying the 2023 Annual Report are three Regional reports which provide a detailed synopsis of the public investments which have been made in three Regional Assembly Areas: the Eastern and Midland Region, the Northern and Western Region and the Southern Region. The reports are all available to view on gov.ie/2040 . 2023 saw clear progress in the delivery of major capital projects. Some examples highlighting achievements in delivery in 2023 include:

In the Education sector: Investment in the School Building Programme exceeded €1.26 billion. Over 330 school building projects were delivered under the large-scale and additional accommodation programmes, of which over 100 are modular projects;
In the Health sector: Five Community Nursing Units were completed during the year, along with Nine Primary Care Centres;
In the Transport sector: Construction was completed on a number of major road projects including the N5 Westport to Turlough and the N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom). Clear progress was made on the goal of delivering a more environmentally sustainable public transport system including BusConnects and the delivery of 100 new double decker buses for the Dublin area;
In support of regional connectivity: Over 205,600 premises passed and were able to avail of high speed broadband connection as the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan continued.

Project Ireland 2040 encompasses Ireland’s clear long-term strategy for capital investment as set out in the National Development Plan 2021 - 2030. The successful delivery of Project Ireland 2040 is an essential element in securing Ireland’s economic, social and environmental sustainability over the next two decades.

This Government’s €165 billion investment through the National Development Plan is already providing vital infrastructure across the country including homes, schools, and primary healthcare centres. Minister’s Donohoe’s Department continues to improve project delivery under the NDP, with the introduction of new Infrastructure Guidelines in March. These new requirements for capital projects will reduce the number of approval stages and streamline the requirements for major projects, while retaining the international best practice governance and oversight arrangements already in place.

Speaking on the publication of the reports, Minister Donohoe said:

“I am delighted to be here today at Naas Library and Cultural Centre to launch the Project Ireland 2040 annual reports for 2023. Naas Library is an excellent example of the type of project being funded under the National Development Plan. It is only one of many examples of the significant progress that we are continuing to make in the delivery of Project Ireland 2040.

This morning I also had the opportunity to visit the new laboratory and headquarters for Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) at Backweston which was completed in 2023. This is the largest ever capital project directly funded by the Exchequer in the Justice sector, at just over one hundred million euro. The FSI plays a really crucial role in our criminal justice system and is a critical part of the infrastructure we need in this country to fight crime, keep people safe and build stronger communities.

Today’s publication of the Project Ireland 2040 Annual and Regional Reports for 2023 showcases the significant and steady progress that was made in the delivery of Project Ireland 2040 and the National Development Plan last year. Advancement in the delivery of vital infrastructure in areas such as housing, transport, education, enterprise, sport and climate action is outlined in these invaluable reports. Today’s publications highlight the delivery of 8,110 social housing new builds, 330 school building projects, 100 of which were modular build, nine new Primary Care Centres and the continued rollout of the National Broadband Plan.

The record investment of €165 billion planned under the NDP demonstrates the prioritisation of capital spend by this Government in recent years. An additional €2.25 billion (over 2024-2026) has been agreed and allocated through the NDP. For 2025, the overall capital ceiling will increase by €1.4 billion to €14.5 billion. This ramping up in investment under the NDP will provide housing, school buildings and transport infrastructure, building capacity for our future. Building on the progress already made, 2024 has seen the delivery of several major capital projects by this Government including the opening of the Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade in February and more recently the opening of the Listowel Bypass.

I will continue efforts to boost NDP delivery to secure the continued delivery of better public services for the people of this country in vital areas such as education, health and climate infrastructure.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Project Ireland 2040

Project Ireland 2040 is the Government’s long-term overarching strategy to make Ireland a better country for all its people. The plan changes how investment is made in public infrastructure in Ireland, moving away from the approach of the past, which saw public investment spread too thinly and investment decisions that did not align with a well-thought-out and defined strategy. Alongside the development of physical infrastructure, Project Ireland 2040 supports business and communities across all of Ireland in realising their potential.

The National Development Plan 2021 - 2030 sets out Departmental allocations to 2025 and a total public investment of €165 billion over the period 2021-2030. As set out in the Summer Economic Statement (SES) 2023, an additional €2.25 billion of capital funding was made available to be allocated in the 2024 to 2026 period. Allocation of this additional funding was agreed in March 2024. This funding will facilitate the progression of important projects and enable more rapid development of key Programme for Government commitments, such as the delivery of actions to fulfil our climate action plan commitments, the provision of more housing and enhanced education facilities. It is estimated that an annual average of up to approximately 47,000 direct and 33,000 indirect construction jobs will be sustained over the course of the NDP.