Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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40. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his main policy achievements as they relate to County Donegal during the term of the current Dáil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29478/24]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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My question is about the main policy achievements of the Minister's Department that relate to County Donegal. What impact is it having on the county as a whole?

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am happy to answer Deputy Pringle's question, but I have a question from Deputy Durkan.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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We are just allowing Deputy Pringle to go ahead of Deputy Durkan.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I will raise some key points about the progress the national development plan, NDP, is making for the people of County Donegal. I highlight where we are with the national broadband plan. At the moment there are 20 connected remote working hubs in County Donegal. I point to the upgraded N56 in County Donegal, which was reopened following an investment of more than €100 million and I understand the road project also contains progress on viewing points and walking and cycling routes.

We have published an NDP progress report that highlights all the different progress that has been made in different regions, including County Donegal. That document lays out in more detail the progress that is happening there. It is accompanied by the work that is taking place in the PEACE PLUS funding programme which looks to prioritise investment in peace and prosperity, not only in Northern Ireland, but also in the adjacent Border counties, including County Donegal. A small, but valuable example of the impact that is having is that €7.6 million of additional funding was allocated to Donegal County Council, which I understand will fund 32 different projects in the county.

However, if the Deputy wishes to raise any particular projects that are not taking place in the county, I am sure he will do so now.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for his response. Some of the aspects he mentioned will be noted as achievements by different Ministers over time. We will see them being rehashed as time goes on.

The Minister mentioned additional projects. It is important that the NDP review is taking place at the moment and there should be different projects in it. The Minister mentioned the N56 in his response. The N56 was not closed. It was upgraded in parts, but substantial parts are still in need of upgrading and need to be placed on the national development plan, including the road from Mountcharles to Killybegs, which needs to be upgraded to ensure the access to the port in Killybegs can be utilised and maximised for the benefit of the whole county, especially the south.

I presume PEACE PLUS is an EU funded programme, so the funding coming from the EU will address those issues. I may have some additional points.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I was not claiming to have delivered the projects myself. I want to make that clear. I just stated that they are examples of projects that the NDP has delivered over a number of years. Work remains to be done on the N56. I heard what the Deputy said about that.

I will quickly list other projects that are under way across the county, such as different residential care facilities at different locations from Letterkenny to Ballyshannon to Falcarragh Community Hospital, to Buncrana and Dungloe. Social housing projects are being delivered, for example, on Convent Road. The total number of social housing projects delivered in 2023 was 100 new homes. There is a Killybegs town centre regeneration programme and a new library, IT and educational building is under way in LYIT - I assume that is Letterkenny Institute of Technology. They are the kinds of projects that are under way. The Deputy will make the case for more to be done, but I wanted to update the Dáil on those important projects that are being delivered.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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The Minister is right. There is a need for more to be done because County Donegal has been significantly underdeveloped. That is partly down to the Border and Border issues. The county only has 4 km of Border with the Twenty-six Counties and has been very much left to its own devices for many years. That funding gap needs to be addressed and the Government should make it a priority to ensure it will be.

I ask that schemes such as the N56 from Mountcharles to Killybegs and from Glenties to Ardara be added to the review of the national development plan. That is vital. Other projects will be needed in the county. It is good to see investment taking place but it needs to step up and be continued.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I will certainty keep that in mind. Every TD always makes the case for investment in their county and constituency but I am particularly aware of the funding and infrastructure needs Donegal has and the challenges it faces in making sure the road infrastructure and public transport links are in place. I have heard the Deputy make the case over many years that they are not. We will continue our efforts to increase capital funding in our economy. I accept there is a need for that funding to be spent in a way that benefits the people of Donegal. As the Deputy will know, many other TDs here this evening will make the case for their own county and constituency and I have to take heed of that as well.