The Government on Tuesday announced a capital plan worth €27 billion over the next six years.
The capital programme aims to provide for major infrastructure projects, including a new rapid transit system from Dublin city centre to Dublin Airport and Swords.
The six-year project was announced by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin, along with Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Joan Burton, at Heuston Station in Dublin.
Capital plans are normally five years in duration, but the addition of a sixth year allows for a substantially increased allocation.
Here is a breakdown of the main points of the plan.
Transport (€10 billion)
• The €2.4 billion, 16.5km Metro link from Dublin city to the airport and on to Swords is the largest single project.
• The Dart line will be extended to Balbriggan.
• Planning will begin on extending the Dart to Maynooth and to Hazelhatch.
• Phoenix Park tunnel will be reopened.
• More than €4.4 billion will be spent on road upgrades.
• €1.6 billion will be spent on new road projects, including:
- N5 Westport to Turlough
- N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom
- N8/N25 Dunkettle Interchange
- N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin
- M7 Naas to Newbridge Bypass Widening
- N56 Dungloe to Glenties
- Sallins Bypass
- Moycullen Bypass
- N56 Mountcharles to Inver Road
- New bridge and approach roads over the Garavogue River in Sligo
Three other roads are planned under public private partnership funding:
- N17/18 Gort to Tuam – underway
- M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy
- N25 New Ross By-Pass
Education (€3.8 billion)
• The delivery of 19,000 extra primary school places by 2018.
• An additional 43,000 secondary school places by 2022.
• A programme to replace existing prefab school buildings with permanent classrooms and facilities.
• Funding for refurbishment projects, site acquisitions and emergency works.
• €210 million will be spent on upgrading school information and communications technology (ICT) systems and the installation of wireless networks.
• €110 million will be invested in Higher Education facilities, with an extra €200 million due to be invested in the third-level sector under public private partnership.
Enterprise (€4.3 billion)
• More than €1.1 billion will be set aside to support business and jobs through Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices, including a new regional building programme.
• €1.25 billion will be invested in the agriculture sector, to advance major development programmes, including:
- Food Wise 2025
- Rural Development Programme
- Seafood Development Programme
- Forestry Programme
• Development of new visitor attractions in the tourism sector.
Healthcare (€3 billion)
• Investment in infrastructure, including the new National Children’s Hospital at St James’s Hospital in Dublin, with satellite centres at Blanchardstown and Tallaght.
• The reorganisation of national maternity services, including moving the National Maternity Hospital to the St Vincent's campus.
• A new National Forensic Mental Health Services facility in Portrane, replacing the Central Mental Hospital.
• New specialist intensive care rehabilitation units at Galway, Cork and Portrane.
• New cancer care departments at Cork University Hospital and University Hospital Galway.
• More than 80 new primary care facilities across the country.
• Investment of €300 million in refurbishment of care facilities for the elderly and people with disabilities.
Housing (€3 billion)
• The provision of 35,000 additional social housing units by 2020.
• Addressing the housing needs of 75,000 households through new rental opportunities in the private market.
• The investment of €300 million in social housing under public private partnerships, which is expected to deliver 1,500 additional units.
• Nama will facilitate the completion of 4,500 new residential units in the Dublin area by the end of 2016.
• The Lord Edward Street Sheltered Housing Scheme will provide 83 homes for elderly residents by 2017, under the Limerick Regeneration Project.
Climate change (€874 million)
• Investment of €444 million in energy efficiency and renewable energy programmes from 2016 until 2021, to help the State reach its 2020 and 2030 climate change targets.
• The Affordable Energy Strategy, aimed at reducing the number of households living in energy poverty.
• The Renewable Heat Initiative, to incentivise the use of renewable heating in industry.
• Investment in renewables within the commercial State sector.
• Provision of €430 million for flood mitigation in at-risk areas, with priority given to Cork city flood defence scheme.
Justice
• Additional investment of €205 million in Garda ICT, bringing the total investment in Garda ICT over the period to €330 million.
• This investment is dependent on the agreement of a reform plan, integrating new ICT with changes in Garda procedure and management structures.
• The completion of three Garda headquarters in Dublin, Galway City and Wexford Town.
• The delivery of new Garda stations under public private partnership.
• A new Forensic Science Laboratory.
• The construction and redevelopment of seven courthouse venues, as well as a €10 million refurbishment programme for the Courts Service.
• The development of a new Family Law and Children’s Courts complex.
• Development work in Limerick and Portlaoise prisons.
Culture, Heritage and Sports
• Investment in rehabilitation of peatlands.
• Investment in cultural infrastructure, including the National Cultural Institutions and Regional Arts and Cultural Centres.
• Investment of €285 million in sports facilities at a local and national level, including funding for a National Indoor Arena at National Sports Campus Ireland.
• The delivery of Ireland 2016, the government’s national commemorative programme, including:
- Funding for the GPO Interpretative Centre
- Restoration of Richmond Barracks
- Development of a cultural centre at Teach an Phiarsaigh in Ros Muc
- The refurbishment of Kilmainham Gaol and Courthouse
- A commemorative centre at 14-17 Moore Street
Other areas
• An initial allocation of €275 million for the National Broadband Plan, with the aim of providing 85 per cent of the State’s homes and businesses with high-speed broadband by 2018.
• Allocation of €437 million to implement the Department of Defence’s White Paper.
• The Department of Children and Youth Affairs will receive an allocation of €136 million, including funding for Tusla, the Early Years and Youth Programme and Oberstown youth justice project.
• Investment of €30 million in economic and living standards in rural towns and villages, including new Strategic Regional Development Office for the west.
• The support of North-South development, and a cross-border element to flood relief and energy projects.