‘More efficiency needed in major infrastructure projects’

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) is advising the Government to put a greater focus on achieving value for money in infrastructure projects.

The advice is contained in a report commissioned by the Department of Finance to evaluate priorities for the next National Development Plan.

The ESRI says transport is still the highest priority for infrastructural investment, but all projects should be considered together rather than evaluated separately.

It says schemes like the Dublin Metro need to be given proper analysis before vast sums of money are invested in them.

Elsewhere, the study says the Government should pump more money into the health sector, which needs an additional 2,000 beds by 2013 if it is to cope with the increasing population.

It also warns that unemployment could be a problem in the near future due to a construction sector downturn in the next 10 to 15 years.