Ireland’s infrastructure ‘does not need architects’ egos going wild’ – minister

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

Ireland’s new infrastructure plan will focus on the functionality of projects rather than “award-winning” designs, a junior minister has said.

The Government is to unveil its revised National Development Plan on Tuesday, which outlines how €200 billion will be spent across various departments over the next 10 years.

The plan, funded by taxpayers’ money, some of the €14 billion in Apple tax money and windfalls from sold state shares in AIB, is expected to focus on housing, energy, water and transport infrastructure.

Minister of State Sean Canney said possible US tariffs still pose a major threat to efforts to upgrade Ireland’s infrastructure deficit.

The Regional Independent TD, one of the several in the coalition government with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, would not indicate what road projects would benefit from the plan, but suggested projects that are “shovel-ready” would be prioritised.

Mr Canney told RTÉ Radio: “The first five years, up to 2030, are critical for us.

“We have money in that space to actually get books done and infrastructure put in place – water and sewerage – to allow us to build their housing.”

He added: “The biggest threat to everything we do, everything we plan, is, of course, the tariffs, where they’re going to land.

“I do accept the fact that in all things that we are planning, you have this cloud hanging over us, and nobody can predict what will come from the United States tomorrow or next week or whatever.”

He said he could not outline what specific projects would be funded, but said more road projects would be given “the go-ahead” in an attempt to spread economic activity across the country.

He said the “broad figures” for each department would be announced on Tuesday.

“The reason we’re doing it that way, it gives departments the flexibility to look at the projects they have coming up, look at which projects are shovel-ready, and we can get them moving as quickly as possible, because in every department, there is an urgency to implement, rather than to be creating more strategies.”

In an apparent reference to the National Children’s Hospital, a “state-of-the-art” public infrastructure project which has been criticised for ballooning to a cost of €2.2 billion, he said there would be an emphasis on functionality.

“It is important that we deliver the projects, but also, and this is a key one, is that we deliver projects which are functional rather than being award-winning, especially in housing and in hospital infrastructure, we need buildings that will function.

“We don’t need to see an architect’s ego going wild, are we to pay more money for something that’s not adding to the functionality?

“I think most people would like to have a home that’s comfortable and functional rather than have an award-winning housing estate from an architectural and aesthetic point of view.”

Among the main projects expected to be mentioned in the report is the long-awaited Metrolink, which is estimated to cost at least €9 billion, but the Government has been warned the cost could inflate to €23 billion.