Fianna Fail is to introduce a new bill to ensure infrastructure projects in Ireland are being carried out.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) Amendment Bill 2017 mandates the C&AG to formally review the performance of key projects that reach certain spending levels to ensure taxpayers get value for money.

Over €42 billion has been earmarked by the Government to be spent on capital projects from 2015-2021 and a new national development plan, due in the coming weeks, will set out a new multi-billion euro range of projects.

-- Advertisement --

However, there is little follow up on the delivery of such major projects.

Councillor Dara Calleary said: "The upcoming development plan will commit billions of taxpayers' money to a wide range of projects. However, after all the publicity dies down, we need to ensure the projects actually deliver. Recent international reviews of Ireland's infrastructure have shown up weaknesses in how we review our spending.

"The Comptroller and Auditor General Amendment Bill 2017 will bring Ireland into line with international best practice standards. In South Korea, for example, a fundamental review is triggered if the costs of a project rise in real terms by more than 20%, or if forecast demand falls by more than 30%.

"Infrastructure has to be about more than ribbon cutting opportunities for Ministers."

(CD/LM)