Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure, has indicated that a commitment towards the creation of a new Government Department of Infrastructure will be incorporated into Fine Gael’s manifesto for the next election. This proposal was originally initiated a few weeks prior by Taoiseach Simon Harris, who identified upcoming challenges related to large infrastructure projects. He stated that these projects will simultaneously undergo the planning process during the government’s term, forming a daunting task. Donohoe perceives Harris’s suggestion regarding restructuring the government to facilitate these projects as extremely viable.
Over the next few months, Donohoe is eager to progress on the development and explanation of how the new Department for Infrastructure would function. However, there remain complexities to be addressed, such as discerning between projects that are pivotal for infrastructure and those that are not. He specifically referred to the proposed Dublin Metrolink system, a significant project which could cost anywhere between €9 billion and €12 billion, as an example of a large initiative aimed to be delivered by the Department of Transport.
While he displays enthusiasm about the creation of a separate Department of Infrastructure, he warns against hastily moving projects away from their respective departments, such as the Department of Transport, as this could pose difficulties. He confirms his advocacy for this new department is unwavering, and further discussions on its operational process will commence in the following weeks and months.
During his address at the yearly MacGill Summer School held in Glenties, Co Donegal, Mr Harris expressed his intentions last month. He plans to consolidate the control of infrastructure projects under a single designated department.
Mr Harris expressed his aspirations for our nation to get better at executing minor, intermediate, and major projects. He remarked that large capital projects that overrun their budget and schedule are commonly known. However, the ones that are completed within the budget and time often go unnoticed. According to him, there are several such efficient projects in existence.