Summary Highlights:

The five Investment Priorities of the Plan are:

Investment in transport infrastructure over the Plan period will total nearly

33 billion of which:

• 13.3 billion will be invested in upgrading and building new national roads; 13.3 billion will be invested in upgrading and building new national roads;

• 4.3 billion will be invested in non-national roads, funded by the Exchequer and the Local Government Fund;

• 12.9 billion will be invested in public transport, particularly in the Greater Dublin Area, this investment is a quadrupling of that allocated in the previous Plan;

• 90 million will be invested in the Rural Transport Initiative; 90 million will be invested in the Rural Transport Initiative;

• 1.8 billion will be invested in improving air transport facilities at the country’s three national airports; and 96 million for investment in the six regional airports and City of Derry Airport; and 1.8 billion will be invested in improving air transport facilities at the country’s three national airports; and 96 million for investment in the six regional airports and City of Derry Airport; and

• 480 million will be invested in upgrading strategic ports facilities and regional harbours.

Energy

Security of supply, competitively priced energy and environmental sustainability underpin the 8.5 billion investment in Energy over the Plan period. Major capital investments will be undertaken by the ESB, Bord Gais Eireann, Bord na Mona and EirGrid. There will also be investment in key strategic energy infrastructure projects including the East/West and North/South interconnectors and ongoing investment in sustainable energy with a view to meeting the target of 15% of electricity production from renewable sources by 2010.

Environmental Services

Environmental Services priority investment, totalling  5.8 billion includes: 5.8 billion includes:

• 4.75 billion for Water Services; 4.75 billion for Water Services;

• Over 750 million for Waste Management, including dealing with the legacy of old landfill sites; and Over 750 million for Waste Management, including dealing with the legacy of old landfill sites; and

• 270 million for Climate Change trading allowances purchase. 270 million for Climate Change trading allowances purchase.

Communications and Broadband Programme

• 435 million under the Programme to support regional economic development and to address market failures in the provision of broadband in certain parts of the country.

2. Enterprise, Science and Innovation

Total proposed investment in Enterprise, Science and Innovation of 20 billion is essential to Ireland’s attractiveness to high-quality Foreign Direct Investment and the development of our own indigenous companies, including those capable of becoming world leaders in product areas as well as niche companies making specialised products based on our natural resources. The investment will also underpin the modernisation of the agriculture sector, development of the tourism industry and support the rural economy.

3. Human Capital

• Over 2.8 billion will be invested in training and skills development programmes, including employment training, apprenticeships, new skills training for adult workers and programmes for school leavers;

• Nearly 4.9 billion in training and development programmes for a wide range of groups, including lone parents, people with disabilities, Travellers, ex-offenders and other categories requiring special interventions (this will also support the goals in the social inclusion priority);

• 13 billion for Third-Level Infrastructure and for ongoing costs of the sector in the context of the promotion of strategic and structural development; and

• 5 billion in First and Second Level schools modernisation and development

4. Social Infrastructure

Total investment under this Priority is as follows;
Social Infrastructure Priority 2007-2013 €m Current Prices

5. Social Inclusion

Key features are:

12 billion Children’s Programme to provide childcare services, child protection and recreational facilities for children, and educational help for children from disadvantaged communities and those with special needs;

• Over 4 billion in Working Age Education Support programmes to support further education, student support and third level access;

• 9.7 billion to help older people live independently at home and to provide investment in quality residential care facilities for older people who are no longer able to live at home;

• 19 billion to support the provision of programmes and services for people with disabilities;

• The RAPID programme, which prioritises investment on 46 of the most disadvantaged urban areas and provincial towns, will be strengthened and enhanced;

• 1.9 billion to support the development of our increasingly diverse communities, including voluntary community bodies, and implementation of the National Drugs Strategy; and

• 848 million to support immigrant integration, language support, the social and economic advancement of members of the Traveller Community, the National Action Plan Against Racism and programmes and measures to combat gender inequality in Ireland.