52. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for a report on his recent attendance at the National Economic Dialogue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51527/26]

The National Economic Dialogue (NED) is a key event in the budgetary calendar and provides an important opportunity to reflect on the challenges, priorities, and opportunities facing the country.

This year’s NED took place on the 15th of June in Dublin Castle. The overall theme of was ‘Reforming now for a secure future: putting Future Forty into practice’ and it was chaired by Professor Orla Doyle from University College Dublin.

This year’s Dialogue focused on a number of key themes, including:

Building Resilient Public Finances

Maximising the Impact of Public Spending

Delivering a Sustainable Social Protection System: Insights from Recent Expenditure Trends

Future-Proofing Construction: Building Capacity for Long-Term Growth

Securing Ireland’s Long-Term Competitiveness

Decarbonisation, Energy, Agriculture and Sustainability: Transitioning to a Lower Carbon Economy

Enhancing Employment Opportunities and Delivering Sustainable, Efficient, and High Quality Services for Disabled People

The relevant background papers for these sessions in addition to the event programme and overview are published on the Department of Finance website[1].

As part of the day, I chaired a breakout session titled "Maximising the Impact of Public Spending". The session was attended by a broad range of stakeholders, with Dr. Emma Howard of Technological University Dublin serving as rapporteur. This session’s discussion paper focused on the importance of reform particularly through strengthening value for money, improving how we allocate and manage resources and ensuring that investment — particularly in infrastructure and public services — supports sustainable growth and builds resilience for the years ahead.

The session was productive and engaging, focusing on reform initiatives to enhance the impact of public expenditure and the delivery of public services. It also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to share their views on reform and public service delivery.

I look forward to the publication of the Chair’s summary of the Dialogue, which will bring together Professor Doyle’s overview and the rapporteurs’ reports from each session. This summary is due to be published on the Department of Finance website in the coming weeks.

[1] www.gov.ie/en/department-of-finance/publications/national-economic-dialogue-2026/