Jack Chambers
Dublin West · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“We have been clear about the absolute necessity to protect the huge ecosystem of digital and infrastructure investment in Ireland over the past ten to 20 years. Part of that has been the wider and ongoing discussion on the security of subsea cables.”
“Progress in achieving balanced regional development and detailing the delivery of the NDP is monitored through regular updates on the capital investment tracker and the MyProjectIreland interactive map viewer.”
“The tax strategy group examines the different options that are available to the Government during the summer. That informs the respective tax package that will advance. We have to honest about the measures we take in terms of taxation. They have to be sustainable and affordable in the long term. USC brings in about €5.5 billion per year.”
“I am not privy to the interaction the Deputy had with the Minister for housing on this, but the Local Government Fund distributes the respective funding across different local authorities, and Galway County Council and Galway City Council would receive allocations through that. I was clear in my initial response to Deputy O'Hara.”
“My Department has taken a proactive and co-ordinated approach to supporting the responsible and effective adoption of AI across the public service.”
“More broadly, the achievement of balanced regional development is a key priority of this Government and is at the heart of Project Ireland 2040, which includes the national planning framework, which sets out the wider spatial strategy for the next 20 years, along with the national development plan, NDP.”
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“Regarding transport commitments, the Deputy is aware of the wider Bus Connects plan, which is being progressed by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and Dart West has advanced through the planning process. Arising from the national development plan published in July last year, €19.1 million in Exchequer capital investment will be provided in 2026. This increases capital investment across the country that will generate substantial employment demand in the construction sector. Departments have also published sectoral investment plans setting out the capital projects to prioritise for 2026-30. These plans provide visibility of the delivery pipeline, giving construction firms the certainty they need to invest as part of the multi-year approach designed to support industry planning and ensure that regional capacity can grow in line with demand.”
“More broadly, the Government wants to achieve balanced regional development as part of Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and the spatial strategy, as part of the national development plan. Since Project Ireland 2040 was launched in 2018, the Government has overseen the delivery of many impactful national development plan projects across the country, including in Dublin West, such as the recently completed teaching building in Technological University Dublin Blanchardstown and the provision of hundreds of social and affordable housing units in Church Fields, Mulhuddart, some of which have been completed while others are being built. There have been multiple school projects across the Dublin West constituency. Many projects have been completed and are planned for Connolly Hospital.”
“As part of the budgetary process each year, my Department sets overall expenditure ceilings for each ministerial Vote group. These are laid out in the budget day expenditure report, with further detail provided in the Revised Estimates published in December. Following the allocation of each expenditure ceiling, each Minister designs the programmes and subhead level across Departments and the agencies under their remit, accounting for the demands for services in different areas and regions and having regard to demographics, population growth and other factors. Within this process, current and capital expenditure are allocated on a departmental basis.”
“Obviously that is a separate and distinct issue from the existing levels of service, but we are seeking to deliver more infrastructure and to speed that up because the time spent in a process-driven approach has a cost and we are trying to bring a broader rebalancing to get projects moving.”
“That is obviously a separate issue to the existing levels of service in the Deputy's question. What we have set out is a new national development plan and a new way of delivering infrastructure in the economy. We have a series of reforms we are advancing through 2026 which are about accelerating wider delivery but also responding to the evidence, which is there, that too many of the systems are cumbersome, slow and duplicative in many instances. This has impacted delivery on water, energy, transport and the wider social and economic infrastructure of the State. Of course we have had reports published on overspends and the children's hospital and there have been learnings from that for the Department of Health. Reforms have been made to mitigate the risk of such an example arising in future.”
“That is where, in terms of the ELS, there is an inconsistency across Votes. Just sitting additional expenditure above a system that might be inefficient in a particular expenditure area does not address the need to better link output. What we are trying to do and how we have changed the expenditure approach is to extract better outputs around how we manage the totality of expenditure, aligned with the point the Deputy has made.”
“To take the Deputy's business model analogy, businesses do not do ELS as he has sought in his question. Businesses look at the totality of expenditure and to drive better delivery, better outputs and better efficiency in terms of the totality of spend. That is exactly what we are seeking to do in how we framed and delivered budget 2026. That is where the weaknesses of existing levels of service are identified and we now focus on the totality of expenditure rather than only the incremental budget package, which has been the nature of it in previous years. That places reform, efficiency and value for money at the centre of decisions we make and shifts the emphasis from the expenditure level towards what policies are being advanced, what services are being delivered and how funding supports a growing population.”
“A range of sources of information relating to the budget are published throughout the year. The expenditure report on budget day summarises the programmes. The Revised Estimates Volume follows the budget and provides additional details and information on spending plans. The fiscal monitor each month provides year-to-date spending figures for each Vote group. This compares them against the profiles set out by Departments and against the previous year. The public service performance report details how Departments performed against targets set in the Revised Estimates process. I have more I can set out.”
“The overall uplift for 2026 is allocated across the following categories: €900 million for increased recipients of public services in social protection, childcare, disability and housing; €2.2 billion for key policy adjustments and expansion of services, including welfare measures, education and youth reforms, increased apprenticeship places and supports for public transport; €1.1 billion to meet the 2026 cost of decisions taken in 2025, such as the roll-out of pay-related benefit, auto-enrolment and additional PSO transport supports; €1.2 billion for the cost of the public sector pay agreement; €1.4 billion reflecting ongoing scheme costs, additional staff recruitment and programme-specific funding across a number of areas; €2.1 billion; and €300 million unallocated, to be assigned later as required, consistent with previous years.”
“This was undertaken to better reflect the totality of expenditure, where this funding is being invested and what is being delivered for our growing population. This approach placed a greater emphasis on reform, efficiency and placing value for money at the centre of government decision-making. It allows for more focus on the total size of the overall expenditure ceiling. The 2026 expenditure report provides a more detailed breakdown of the budget package than in previous years, as shown in the reconciliation table provided on page 12.”
“Each year the expenditure report seeks to improve on previous iterations to refine and improve the approach used to present budget day figures. The expenditure report for 2026 provides a more detailed description of the budget package components than in previous years, in the table set out on page 12. There have been many alternative approaches in the past and work on the best way to present each year's budget will be an iterative process. The approach taken to the budget 2026 differs from previous years and therefore cannot be compared on a like-for-like basis. The information is no longer available in the format used in recent years as the budget estimates for 2026 have been constructed in a different way to previous years' budgets.”
“It is fundamental for the wider future and long-term progress of the economy that we drive better delivery and reform. These are pragmatic steps that will make a difference. They have a good evidence base. Accountability is key and that is why the majority of the actions sit within my Department and the infrastructure division, so that we can drive that co-ordination piece over the next number of months.”
“There are variety of mechanisms in that regard. It is about trying to drive compliance. There are obviously sanctions and requests received relating to staffing. For example, if a particular agency is not delivering in line with what we have set out in the infrastructure report, a request for additional staffing might be a consideration or how we restructure or reform a particular agency if it is not contributing to wider delivery. That is an example of it. If things are escalated and we do not see delivery and change, then sanction plays a role in terms of driving progress and reforming. We cannot allow drift to occur. I acknowledge support of the Deputy and indeed that of many in the Opposition who wish to co-operate with this.”
“The critical infrastructure Bill will prioritise infrastructure delivery and place obligations on those involved in the infrastructure lifecycle around what they are expected to do and in what time. All of that will yield improved delivery and better accountability as through the year.”
“The task force is continuing to ensure we have challenge meetings and continued oversight of delivery. We have a Cabinet committee on infrastructure and the critical infrastructure Bill, and we will bring the scheme to the Government in the coming weeks. That will place clear obligations around the prioritisation of infrastructure across regulatory bodies and agencies when it comes to trying to speed up infrastructure delivery across the State. I have also said in my role in terms of sanctioning respective Departments and agencies that co-operation and delivery of infrastructure is something that will be central to wider requests that are received through the year and the budgetary process. The accountability structure is there in terms of Cabinet committees and the utilisation of the wider sanctioning position I have.”
“I chaired the first meeting at which there was a wider discussion about its terms of reference and work plan over the coming weeks and months. The Minister for justice, Deputy O’Callaghan, also brought heads of Bill to Government to place the judicial review process on a statutory footing, which were published on 6 January 2026. These give a wider indication of some what is being implemented. At this point, there are no significant indicators for actions that are off track, and good progress is noted for actions required for delivery in quarters 1 and 2 of 2026. I will go into the wider piece in my second contribution.”
“The sectoral plans detail over 200 specific projects that are being prioritised, with a particular focus on those projects going to tender or construction within 2026 and 2027. This is with the specific aim of providing certainty to the construction on the pipeline. With regard to the Government’s consultation on the scale of fees for environmental judicial reviews by the Department of climate, we will publish the consultation on fees for environmental legal costs, which will, in effect, limit the cost the State pays in environmental judicial reviews. We have had the first meeting of new joint utilities and transport clearing house, which will ensure shared understanding and collaboration between the utilities and transport sectors and greater co-operation in infrastructure delivery.”
“All lead Departments have been engaged with over January and this month to provide an update on the delivery of quarter 4 of 2025 and quarter 1 of 2026 actions and the relevant structural changes within their sectors to aid the delivery of the 30 actions. All actions required for delivery in 2025 have been completed as of January 2026. Some of the key deliverables include the publication of the national development plan review in 2025 and the subsequent publication of all national development plan sectoral plans. As committed to in the programme for Government and the accelerating infrastructure task force, a step-change in investment for the energy, water and transport sectors has been approved.”
“In drafting the accelerating infrastructure report, there was extensive engagement with ministerial and official level colleagues to ensure clear ownership of actions and the expectations for delivery of these actions. On publication, Departments were required to set out how they will implement the series of actions under their remit and ensure individuals know what they are accountable for. My Department will be managing the monitoring and reporting on delivery of the actions in the report and action plan, which will be led by my infrastructure division. It details 30 headline actions for delivery by quarter and sets out target outputs and outcomes to be achieved.”
“This programme of reform, coupled with the expenditure committed to, paves the way for Ireland's continued economic development, achieving climate targets, unlocking housing delivery, creating opportunities across Ireland, enhancing our competitiveness as a place to invest in and to do business and building abundance in our economy and society such that our people and communities will benefit from high-quality services that drive improved living standards. I thank my fellow Government colleagues and Members from right across the House who are engaging positively and constructively on this journey to transform infrastructure delivery in our country. We have a generational opportunity to shape Ireland's future. Now is the time to get infrastructure delivery right by reforming the system outside of us and the culture within.”
“Infrastructure delivery and monitoring structures are bedding in, including strategic-level monitoring of implementation, functions for reporting to Government, risk appetite reviews and public-facing communications and project tracking and delivery. The task force will continue to meet regularly to support the delivery of this plan. My Department has demonstrably committed to driving delivery of these 30 actions. The decisions we have already taken and are implementing show that we are moving at pace. I am confident that we will deliver the respective actions across this year.”
“Since it came to office, the Government has taken clear strides to move at pace to address Ireland’s infrastructural needs and secure our future, economically and socially. My Department has taken clear ownership of driving delivery and embodying the strategic leadership that is required for this critical step change for Ireland. Senior officials have been appointed, a newly composed infrastructure division has been confirmed and timelines and responsibilities for actions and sub-measures have been committed and agreed to. The regulatory reform team has been appointed and has commenced its first stage of assessments. Senior managers have been deployed to expand the team for construction sector capacity and procurement and work on external assurance reports to support the major projects advisory group has commenced.”
“That means clear risk appetite statements approved by the Government in order that sponsors can commence well-scoped early works, run safe, concurrent steps and forward order critical components where the public benefit justifies it. This is a commitment and a clear programme of action. We will remove duplication, confront risk aversion and build a delivery-first culture while safeguarding the environment and access to justice. The expected combined impact of all the actions in this plan will be faster approvals and reduced litigation, significantly shorter delivery timelines, improved co-ordination and resource allocation, greater public trust and reduced opposition, and ultimately, increased infrastructure output to support our housing, climate and economic goals.”
“Even with increased resourcing, major wastewater plants still face consenting cycles measured in years. Ireland’s renewables projects have among the slowest development timelines in the EU. This carries a real cost, namely higher energy prices and higher emissions, and the threat of judicial review that drives further risk aversion. We will fix it by simplifying legislation, standardising processes, aligning statutory timelines and driving proportionality and parallel processing across consents in order protection of people and nature will be delivered with efficiency, not delay. Reforming regulation alone is not enough, however. We must reform how Government and the public service work.”
“We will also improve public engagement processes to communicate the real-world value of infrastructure and the improvements it brings to the quality of life of ordinary people. All these actions mean we are fundamentally reforming how we deliver high quality infrastructure in our country. We are not simply adjusting one lever; we are changing the system entirely, reforming our legal and regulatory processes, how we co-ordinate and deliver across the public service and how we engage with the public, because only a whole-of-government effort will convert record investment into outcomes at pace. Regulation has its place, but it needs to be balanced against delivery. We do not have that balance currently. Our regulatory regime is fragmented, often sequential and overly conservative in its application of EU law, creating delay and uncertainty.”
“We will increase construction sector capacity through streamlined permits and visas, expanded training and greater use of modern methods of construction and digitalisation and procurement reform through sharing expertise through the National Development Finance Agency, standardising procurement processes and enabling the use of international forms of contract where appropriate. These actions will create greater co-operation between State bodies, ensuring that all bodies are aligned with Government strategies to deliver critical infrastructure. The fourth pillar of the report focuses on public acceptance and civic engagement. Infrastructure must earn societal support. We will accelerate infrastructure delivery by reducing land access delays and building public trust and accountability.”
“Some of the key actions under this pillar include the prioritisation of Government investment in capital, which has already been achieved through the recent national development plan review and continues to be actioned with the publication of sectoral investment plans for critical infrastructure sectors. My Department will take on an expanded infrastructure co-ordination role. The Department will be proactive and will ensure that the action plan is implemented, its effectiveness measured and issues identified and resolved early. We have created a joint utilities and transport clearing house to co-ordinate road openings, diversions and standards.”
“The Government has already made significant efforts to orient itself towards infrastructure co-ordination and delivery through the funding allocations and reform plan. The infrastructure division will take on a proactive oversight and monitoring role for this plan. This role will allow my Department to take early action where barriers arise in the delivery of critical infrastructure programmes. These commitments to strengthening the construction sector are supported by other actions in the plan. Shortened delivery timelines, reduced regulatory complexity and a reliable project pipeline will all enable the construction sector to build and maintain the workforce and expertise needed to deliver on Ireland’s ambitious capital plans.”
“The legislation underpinning regulatory processes will also be rationalised. We will publish national planning statements to create legally binding guidance for planning authorities. This will create consistency, transparency and accountability in decision-making on infrastructure projects. We will change how we approach infrastructure in the context of EU law. The third pillar is focused on reform of co-ordination and delivery. In order to deliver on the commitments in the national development plan and sectoral investment plans, Ireland must be able to deliver infrastructure at scale, year after year. The funding has been committed and delivery is now a real a priority. This can only be achieved with strong, whole-of-government co-ordination and a strong construction sector.”
“This reform pillar is not just about removing regulation or lowering standards, and accelerating infrastructure delivery must not come at the cost of good governance or environmental standards. We will focus on simplifying and standardising processes in order that approvals run in parallel, where possible, with clearly stated expectations and statutory timelines for decisions. This goal is to align procedures across agencies, remove duplication and create processes that have predictable timelines and outcomes and that ultimately strike a better balance in the context of regulatory requirements. Some of the key actions under this pillar include the establishment of a regulatory simplification unit to proactively identify opportunities to simplify, create parallel systems and streamline regulatory processes.”
“The key actions under this pillar include: several measures to reform the judicial review process; enacting a critical infrastructure Bill; giving statutory designation for critical projects, thereby allowing them to be expedited through processes; and bringing forward emergency powers legislation to enable accelerated delivery in urgent situations consistent with EU law. The second pillar is regulatory reform. Our current regulatory landscape is fragmented and overly complex. It is composed of numerous agencies, consents, assessments and licences. However, the system has developed over decades and each of these processes may serve an important function.”
“The Government is focused on making the step change necessary to have real impact on our infrastructure delivery. The action plan spans four pillars. First, there is legal reform. This is designed to tackle excessive complexity in the regulatory and infrastructure development environment at the source. These legal reforms are specific and carefully considered to improve infrastructure delivery without compromising on environmental standards, individual rights or good governance. These reforms will work within the bounds of existing EU legislation to reduce disproportionate delays in the infrastructure development process and will create legal frameworks for critical and emergency infrastructure, ensuring that projects of high strategic importance or that are urgently needed can be prioritised by all State bodies and delivered quickly.”
“These actions are not stand alone, and the total impact will be greater than the sum of the individual actions. There needs to be a complete mindset shift across our public services to ensure delivery is prioritised. This means a much greater risk appetite, much better regulatory balance and a decision-making culture which ensures that the public and national interest come first. This is not a report of recommendations. The report is a statement of intent, and the Government is committed to implementing this action plan in full and on time. This is evident with clear deadlines for implementation included - which are concentrated, and the majority of which are in 2026 - clear responsibility for each action and defined measures of success and accountability.”
“It highlighted five key objective: to accelerate delivery of critical infrastructure, particularly in the areas of electricity, water and transport; to accelerate the delivery of all infrastructure by simplifying, streamlining and rebalancing the regulatory and consenting processes for infrastructure in general; to reduce delays caused by judicial reviews, regulatory complexity and fragmented approvals; to enhance co-ordination across Government, utilities and local authorities; and to build public and political support for infrastructure projects. The report also sets out 30 targeted actions across four pillars to deliver on these objectives. Each of the actions outlined is explicitly linked to the barriers identified in July and how they interact with each other.”
“I chaired this task force, which met monthly, and ensured that the work and recommendations of the group were evidence based, practical, targeted and, crucially, capable of delivering measurable improvements in infrastructure timelines and outcomes. The first report of the task force identified 12 barriers to infrastructure delivery in key areas, namely: the regulatory environment in particularly complex, overlapping consenting processes for submission and review and risk aversion in the system; the planning and legal systems, in particular judicial reviews, causing uncertainty and delay; and internal systems across the public and civil service, noting fragmented governance, procurement challenges and capacity constraints. The final report was published in December last year and focused on how we address these issues.”
“However, to maximise this investment, reform is equally important. We are clear we cannot properly tackle infrastructure deficits through increased investment alone. Unprecedented funding allocations must be matched with unprecedented reform to deliver value for money and the projects required. In April 2025, I established the infrastructure division in my Department and convened the accelerating infrastructure task force with a single mandate, that is, to identify the key barriers to infrastructure delivery and develop a comprehensive action plan to overcome them. The accelerating infrastructure task force brought together experts and stakeholders from across the infrastructure delivery system with the aim of tackling the most significant barriers to infrastructure delivery.”
“The plans published to date include planned investment and projects, including a range of projects across transport, health, education, justice and utility services. These sectoral plans are available online and provide further detail on a sectoral basis. The core functions of my Department are expenditure management and reform and this dual remit underpins the Government’s approach to accelerating and expanding our delivery of infrastructure to maximise the impact for Ireland. The investment under the NDP is to ensure that we are equipped for the future and that we are making lasting sustainable change to the country. Record levels of expenditure provide us with a generational opportunity to transform our built environment and deliver the homes needed for our growing and changing demographics.”
“I was pleased to participate in the launch of the education sectoral investment plan earlier today with the Minister, Deputy Naughton, which will provide hundreds of new buildings and school extensions, with a particular emphasis on special education over the next two years. By outlining the scale, scope, and timing of upcoming infrastructure projects, the sectoral plans provide greater certainty for industry to be able to plan and scale capacity through investment in hiring, technology and innovation to deliver on the NDP. Considering sectoral needs and ministerial decisions, these plans reflect Government priorities, including the national planning framework commitment to balanced regional development.”
“This will be increased to an allocation of €19.1 billion for 2026, as outlined in the Estimates published in December. It represents the highest annual spend on capital investment in this country. Capital expenditure has increased by almost €9.5 billion or 97% over the period 2021 to 2026. This increased investment has seen its share rise from 11% of overall current and capital expenditure in 2021 to 16% in 2026. Following the publication of the review last July, Departments began to develop their sectoral investment plans to provide specific details on projects they intend to deliver and progress between 2026 and 2030. These plans have provided the construction and built environment sector with a clear and structured pipeline of projects to be delivered over the next five years.”
“A further €2.5 billion in funding is being provided to commence the greater Dublin drainage and water supply project over the period to 2030, and €2 billion from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund will fund and support low-carbon transportation, such as MetroLink. The review prioritised increased investment in critical infrastructure for water, energy, transport and housing to allow us to enable the delivery of hundreds of thousands of additional homes; provide greater opportunities for our enterprise economy and support our international competitiveness; and support all other necessary economic and social development, such as schools, hospitals and further and higher education. Total capital investment in 2025 was €16.6 billion.”
“This is an additional €23.9 billion over and above the previous allocation and is further complemented by an investment of €10 billion in equity and fund releases, which is specifically being provided for investment to expansively improve and upgrade infrastructure mega-projects in the water, energy and transport sectors over the period to 2030. Some €3.5 billion in equity funding was provided to ESB Networks and EirGrid in 2025 to fund enhanced energy grid capacity to support the Government's housing and competitiveness objectives. Some €2 billion in equity funding has been provided to Uisce Éireann to enable the delivery of 300,000 additional homes.”
“These three documents represent an unprecedented increase in investment, a realistic outline of the barriers to infrastructure delivery and a time-bound plan to remove those barriers. The Government has set out annual sectoral allocations for 2026 to 2030, and overall Government capital expenditure ceilings to 2035, leading to a total public capital investment of €275.4 billion over the period to 2035. This includes €202.4 billion in Exchequer voted capital expenditure from 2026 to 2035. Of this, €102.4 billion is being allocated over the five-year period 2026 to 2030, which represents a 30% increase over the previously agreed capital ceilings for the same period.”
“Sectoral plans setting out the projects and programmes to be prioritised by each Department over the next five years have been published. The NDFA is broadening its remit for the provision of expert advice on major infrastructure; and the dedicated infrastructure division in my Department was established with a new deputy secretary general appointed last December. Moving beyond the programme for Government commitments and towards the concrete actions that will be taken over the lifetime of this Government, we published the NDP review and the report on engagement and barriers to infrastructure in July and the subsequent Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan in December.”
“They were: to create a Cabinet committee on infrastructure to drive delivery; to undertake an early review of the national development plan; to review and reform the prioritisation of capital projects in key agencies; to broaden the remit of the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, to provide expert advice for major infrastructure; and to create a dedicated infrastructure division in my Department, including formation of an accelerating infrastructure task force to assess the implementation of measures to accelerate infrastructure delivery. In the past 12 months, we have delivered on each of these commitments. The Cabinet committee on infrastructure to drive delivery was established in April last year. The review of the national development plan was published in July.”
“The choices we now set in motion on infrastructure delivery will determine our economic competitiveness, our climate resilience, the protection and creation of jobs, and, ultimately, the quality of life enjoyed by people in communities across the country. I am acutely aware of the multifaceted and interconnected challenges the Government faces in infrastructure deficits and the need to prioritise investment in major housing, water, energy and transport projects. In the programme for Government, published one year ago, we made five key commitments for infrastructure delivery.”
“I thank Members of the House for the opportunity to provide an update on the Government’s work to accelerate infrastructure delivery, and to discuss my Department’s role in the management and delivery of capital projects and programmes. In particular, I will outline some of the recent and ongoing developments in my Department, as we implement the actions contained in the accelerating infrastructure action plan which the Government published in December. As we look back on recent weeks and the rupture in the global international order, the case for fundamental reform has never been stronger. The need for high quality, modern infrastructure has never been clearer.”
“This is important legislation that will allow us to continue to fund the basic functioning of the State for the start of 2026. We appreciate the support of all Members.”
“A new sports capital programme opens next year, and the wider transport infrastructure programme has been allocated €24 billion for the next five years. It is the biggest investment in transport infrastructure in the history of the State. It is hugely important for connectivity but also for improving the day-to-day living experiences of so many people. We all share Senator Kyne’s focus on the ring road in Galway. I know the frustration that is felt in Galway around the delays to the project. I hope there will be a positive decision on that. If there is, we then have to get on with getting it built. It is hugely important for the west. When it comes to defence, our greater ambition is set out in the capital plan for the Department of Defence that the Minister, Deputy McEntee, published last week.”
“I echo what everyone else has said and wish everyone a happy Christmas. I thank all of the staff in the Houses of the Oireachtas who do an incredible job. They work long hours and nights. I hope everyone has a fantastic break. To echo Senator Davitt, it is always enjoyable to come into this House. The soothing atmosphere in this House is always welcome compared with other debates we have, inside and outside. I thank the Members for their support today. In response to Senator Andrews's contribution, the housing budget next year is in excess of €11 billion. It has been the big priority in the review of the national development plan. I share with him the ambition to not only build more social and affordable homes but also to have the social infrastructure to underpin that in terms of schools, etc.”
“The passing of the Bill will authorise in law all of the expenditure that has been undertaken in 2025 based on the Estimates voted by the Dáil during the year. The passage of the Bill will also ensure that payments funded from voted expenditure in 2026 can continue to be made in the period between the beginning of the year and when the Dáil approves the 2026 Estimates. I commend the Bill to the House.”