Minister Chambers’ plan to fast track infrastructure is a case of déjà vu – Mairéad Farrell TD

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform, Mairéad Farrell TD, has said that Minister Jack Chambers’ plans to bring a memo to Cabinet in relation to establishing a taskforce of experts to help fast track infrastructure, seems like old wine in new bottles.

The Construction Sector Group (CSG) was established in 2018 which comprises government departments, public bodies, and a broad array of industry experts.

Teachta Farrell said:

“This is why the Construction Sector Group (CSG) was established back in 2018 – a task force intended to speed up and improve how we deliver infrastructure in this state.

“It was comprised of groups such as Construction Industry Federation, Engineers Ireland, Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, the Irish Planning Institute and the Building Materials Federation. Others included the likes of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).

“The CSG also had a number of subgroups which dealt with a wide range of infrastructure related areas. From new technologies, to planning, to procurement and so on.

“Minister Darragh O’Brien, then Minister for Housing, said that the Department and Local Authorities worked very closely with the CSG.

“Moreover, the CSG operates under the aegis of Minister Chambers’ Department.

“Therefore, I would have assumed that this expert taskforce is already in place? Why create a separate taskforce when the CSG already exists? This makes no sense.

“The CSG for their part did produce some excellent reports, unfortunately they were married to government inaction. This now seems like a case of back to the future. This business of bringing memos to Cabinet appears to be driven by optics more than anything else.”