985. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether his Department maintains a central record of cost overruns, write-downs and abandoned projects across Departments and public bodies; if so, the aggregate value recorded in each of the past five years; if not, whether consideration will be given to establishing such a central reporting mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64017/26]

987. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number and total value of major public capital projects with an approved budget in excess of €20 million which are currently forecast to exceed their originally approved budget by more than 20%; to identify each such project, its original approved cost and current estimated cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64014/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 985 and 987 together.

As Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation, my Department is responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments under the National Development Plan and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level.

The management and delivery of investment projects and public services within allocation and the national frameworks, including the Infrastructure Guidelines and National Planning Framework, is a key responsibility of every Department, Accounting Officer and Minister.

The revised National Development Plan, published in July 2025 set out €275.4 billion in public capital investment to 2035 – the largest and most significant capital injection in our economy in the history of the State.

To ensure value for money is being achieved, and to support projects being delivery on budget and on time, Departments must adhere to the Infrastructure Guidelines, which set out the value for money guidelines and requirements for the evaluation, planning and management of public capital investment projects. The guidelines apply to all public bodies and all bodies in receipt of Exchequer capital funding. Government Departments and their Accounting Officers are responsible for ensuring that departments and agencies draw up their own sector specific procedures which align with these Guidelines.

As part of the capital appraisal process for projects under the Infrastructure Guidelines, Sponsoring Agents for the projects are asked to critically consider the potential schedule and cost implications of a project, which is further developed as a project progresses through the approval gats and more information becomes available. This includes detailed financial and economic appraisal, sensitivity analysis, accounting for behavioural influences such as optimism bias, consideration of appropriate levels of contingency, and detailed risk assessment.

Information in relation to individual projects or programmes, including information related to project costs, are held by the department funding the project.