The Director General of Engineers Ireland (EI) has said Ireland requires a single Government unit to plan and fund the country's infrastructure needs.

A single unit, residing in the Taoiseach's office, should be set up to better integrate investment in key areas like transport, education, health, energy and the digital economy, according to Miss Caroline Spillane.

"Planning should happen in a single infrastructure unit that works on Ireland's long-term infrastructure priorities and secures private sector investment," she said.

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"We need to ensure we have the capital infrastructure in place to meet economic demand, as well as a skilled labour force ready to create and fill the jobs of the future."

Engineers Ireland believes the recently announced €27bn capital plan would not meet the needs of the economy which is growing faster than expected.

Miss Spillane added: "With macroeconomic forecasts for Ireland being revised upwards, the country's capital infrastructure will not be enough to meet demand in the coming years.

"We are investing too little, the timeframe for project delivery is too long, and we are not thinking strategically enough about the long-term needs of the country."

(LM)