Cabinet to discuss plan to speed up infrastructure delivery
Infrastructure minister Jack Chambers and Tánaiste Simon Harris will tell Cabinet of plan to reduce the need for external expert consultants by centralising expertise with the NDFA. Stock picture
Up to 12 months could be shaved off the completion time for major infrastructure projects under plans to be discussed by the Cabinet on Tuesday.
This, ministers will be told, will be done through the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) providing “expertise” to Government departments in a bid to speed up infrastructure delivery.
Ministers will be asked to approve the plans from infrastructure minister Jack Chambers and Tánaiste Simon Harris at the Cabinet meeting.
The accelerating infrastructure report and action plan — which was published in December — committed to expanding the NDFA’s role to enable it to provide centralised support and expert assistance for major projects through the approvals process.
The expansion of the NDFA will “centralise expertise” and reduce the need for external expert consultants.
It will also aid with corporate governance arrangements for projects, preparation of business cases, and support through the construction phase.
Cabinet will be told this move could reduce development cycles of major capital projects by 12 months.
Ministerial guidelines will be issued to every department by Mr Chambers, with departments asked to identify suitable projects that could benefit from the new service.
The redevelopment of the GPO and the National Concert Hall in Dublin are likely to be among the first projects to avail of this service.
Separately, defence minister Helen McEntee will bring plans to Cabinet on the reform of the triple lock to remove the requirement for the UN to sign off on sending Irish troops on peacekeeping missions.
Ministers will also learn where they are travelling for St Patrick’s Day. Ms McEntee will say that it is the “largest ever programme” of St Patrick’s Day visits, with 40 delegations to 52 countries, with a strengthened focus on trade and investment.
Ministers, the Ceann Comhairle, and the Attorney General will visit the US, Britain, the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America, and Africa.
A small number of visits to the Middle East and North Africa are also scheduled for later in March and early April, following Ramadan.
Meanwhile, energy and climate minister Darragh O’Brien will announce that a new windows and doors grant will be introduced under the better energy homes scheme from March 3.
To avail of the grant, homeowners must install a heat pump at the same time if they do not already have one installed.Â
The scheme will see a maximum grant of €800 per door for a maximum of two doors and up to €4,000 for windows.
Enterprise minister Peter Burke will seek Cabinet approval to set up a €15m scheme to build more flour mills in Ireland to secure supply chains, reduce costs for bakeries, and improve sustainability.
Housing minister James Browne will bring the Residential Tenancies Bill to Cabinet so all rental properties can fall under rent pressure zone legislation from March 1.
- Louise Burne, Political Correspondent
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