The Ministry for Public Expenditure and Reform in Ireland has launched Review to Renew - the review of the National Development Plan. The National Development Plan 2018-2027 (NDP) sets out a 10-year program of capital investment aimed at upgrading Ireland’s infrastructure, enhancing economic capacity, and promoting balanced regional development.

The NDP is a pillar of “Project Ireland 2040”, alongside the National Planning Framework (NPF), which sets the overarching spatial strategy for the next twenty years and was developed by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. The Programme for Government (PfG) has brought increased clarity to the evolving policy context and provided for a mid-term Review of the NDP to be brought forward.

Since the launch of Project Ireland 2040 there has been significant progress in delivering a range of both large and small infrastructure projects throughout the country:

• delivering better transport links (completion of the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy and the N25 New Ross Bypass),
• facilitating better health facilities (two new acute ward blocks in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and Waterford University Hospital),
• environmental outcomes (e.g. upgraded Waste Water Treatment Plants at Mohill, Athenry, Castleblaney, Enniscorthy, Manorhamilton, Ardee, Grange, Tubbercurry, and Ballinafad).

The vast majority of projects have come in on time and on budget. There has also been significant progress made in planning for major projects such as Bus Connects, DART Expansion, Metrolink, and the M20 Cork to Limerick.