Ireland 2040: Government defend plan branded a ‘marketing exercise’

The Government’s grand plan for the future of the country has been branded little more than a “marketing exercise” with most of its promises and a third of its funding previously announced.

The Taoiseach is under fire over Project Ireland 2040 which the opposition has claimed contains 179 projects that have already been published. However, the Taoiseach and ministers quickly moved to defend the framework last night, strongly denying it is simply an election manifesto.

The plan contains significant transport, housing, health and education projects for the next generation as well as a blueprint to rebalance growth between rural and urban areas.