A lack of infrastructure in Ireland will be tackled by a new Government agency set up to fast-track public-private partnerships (PPPs), it was claimed today.
Employers' umbrella group, Ibec welcomed the new body which will take the responsibility for planning and construction of projects away from individual Government departments.
Ibec's PPP council chairman Jim Barry said he hoped the new agency would speed up essential infrastructure initiatives across the country.
"Ireland suffers from an infrastructure deficit and public private partnerships have a major role to play in addressing this," he said. "The new agency should contribute to getting more public private partnerships up and running as soon as possible.
"The private sector is able and willing to help meet Ireland 's infrastructure needs and looks forward to working with the new agency." Finance Minister Brian Cowen said the new National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) will take responsibility for PPPs operated by the departments of justice, education and health.
Forthcoming projects include the new Mountjoy Jail as well as new courts and school buildings. The work is currently being done by several dedicated PPP units within the departments themselves.
The NDFA will have the job of procuring the planning and construction of new projects. The new Mountjoy site at Thornton in North Co Dublin has been dogged by opposition from local residents and Opposition claims that the land was bought for several times the market price.
Responsibility for roads will remain with the National Roads Authority (NRA) and local government. The Rail Procurement Agency (RPA) will continue to oversee the development of the nation's rail network.
PA