Donohoe refuses to rule out new infrastructure department replacing higher education

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe said new infrastructure department 'can play a really big role in pulling together the expertise that’s currently located in a number of different Government departments'

Paschal Donohoe said any standalone infrastructure department would be separate from the existing Department of Public Expenditure, saying there was a need for a minister to control public spending. Picture: Leah Farrell /RollingNews.ie

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe has declined to rule out whether or not Fine Gael would abolish the Department of Higher Education to create a new infrastructure department.

Mr Donohoe said any standalone infrastructure department would be separate from the existing Department of Public Expenditure, saying there was a need for a minister to control public spending.