Leinster House, Dublin, 23 July 2025 — The Government’s revised National Development Plan (NDP) came under fire today, with opposition leader Cian O’Callaghan branding the overarching strategy “fantasy economics”.
The Taoiseach and Tánaiste recently completed final sign‑off on the updated NDP, which outlines more than €275 billion in planned public capital investment over the next decade, including nearly €102 billion to be deployed by 2030 and a further €100 billion by 2035 RTÉ+11Irish Examiner+11gov.ie+11. It also features major sums earmarked for key infrastructure sectors: housing, transport (including a €2 billion MetroLink commitment), energy grid upgrades, water systems, health facilities and education The Irish TimesThink Businessgov.ie.
Despite the ambition, the rollout has been criticised for its lack of detail. Departmental capitals will not be broken down by project until the Budget 2026 in October. A Minister of State admitted that “doesn’t know what roads are being done” Irish Examiner+1The Sun+1.
In a sharp rebuke, Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan dismissed the plan entirely, asserting it amounts to little more than economic fantasy with no grounded, workable substance Wikipedia.
Key Takeaways
- Record‑breaking scale: At €275.4 billion, this marks the largest capital investment plan in Ireland’s history RTÉ+5gov.ie+5Facebook+5.
- Big-ticket allocations:
- Transport: MetroLink given a €2 billion kick‑start.
- Water services: Uisce Éireann receives multi‑billion euro funding, with the Department of Housing getting a further €7.7 billion for water-linked housing projects RTÉ+9The Irish Times+9The Sun+9.
- Energy: ESB and Éirgrid to share over €3 billion in equity support The Irish TimesThink Business.
- Delayed specifics: While overall spending totals are clear, details on individual projects—particularly roads and hospitals—won’t be available until later this year The Sun.
Political Context
The revised NDP is a central pillar of the coalition government formed in January, led by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and several independents. The proposal follows one major economic warning: U.S. tariff risks have put pressure on Government to strengthen domestic infrastructure resilience TheJournal.ie+10Wikipedia+10RTÉ+10.
While the Taoiseach and Tánaiste describe the NDP as “unprecedented in scale and scope” and emphasise delivery as the guiding principle, critics highlight the absence of granular planning. As Ministers prepared to receive their “envelope of money” from Cabinet, a sense of impatience among rank‑and‑file voices is clear: now comes the hard part of turning ambition into action The Irish Times.
The plan’s success—or failure—will hinge on how effectively its lofty financial commitments translate into tangible outcomes.
| Sector | Allocated Funding | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Housing & Water | €102 billion (by 2030) | Uisce Éireann upgrades, water/housing links |
| Transport | €35 billion+ | MetroLink, road expansions, public transport |
| Health & Education | €40 billion | Hospital builds, school construction |
| Energy Infrastructure | €3.15 billion (ESB/Éirgrid) | Grid modernisation, renewable energy |
| Justice, Defence, Others | €20+ billion | Courts, garda stations, military bases |
| Long-Term Projects | €100 billion (2030–2035) | Climate resilience, rural broadband, future cities |
Read More:
Govt's NDP is 'fantasy economics', says O'Callaghan
The Government's National Development Plan is based on a "very optimistic scenario" and "falls into the realm of fantasy economics", Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan has said.
