In years past, the NDP would be a ‘shopping list’ of projects which the cabinet awarded funding to, often after intense local lobbying, but it is now more a broad-brush statement of which policy areas or government departments will have funding prioritised.
Galway is only mentioned twice in the 50-page plan. Once, in terms of the government’s intention to prioritise half of all investment toward “compact growth” of the country’s five main cities, and once again in terms of examples of projects already delivered: in this case, new wards in University Hospital Galway (UHG ).
Up to the October Budget, however, expect ministers and coalition government-supporting TDs across County Galway to issue a drip feed of press releases on how they secured monies for their own constituency priorities. At the end of the day, it is still filthy lucre that primes the parish pump.
In Galway, the most pressing infrastructure priorities are – in no particular order – housing, transport, water, health, local government, energy and defence.
Nationally, the Department of Housing is arguably the biggest winner in the NDP, with €36bn allocated, followed by €22.3bn to Transport, €9.3bn to Health, €7.6bn to Education, and €5.6bn toward climate, environment and energy agencies. The Defence Forces will get €1.7bn in new capital investment, the largest ever rise in military spending since WWII.
More than €100 billion of this funding will be allocated before 2030, and the government’s Summer Economic Statement (SES ), also published this week, indicates Budget 2026 will include an overall spending package of €9.4 billion.
But what does it mean for Galway?
Galway East TD, minister for state Sean Canney, has been all over the national airwaves in recent weeks in connection to the revised NDP. Although a ‘super junior’ minister in the Department of Transport, with responsibility for roads, rail, logistics and ports, he is the de facto mouthpiece for the Regional Independent Group (RIG ) collective of TDs which supports the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael-Independent coalition government, alongside Galway West’s Noel Grealish TD, in a deal made controversial by the inclusion of disgraced Tipperary TD, Michael Lowry.
In response to a question on Galway’s priorities, Sean Canney told RTÉ Radio 1 on Tuesday that the revised NDP was the largest infrastructure investment in the history of the state. “Lots of projects that need to be done, haven’t been done. There’s now money to do these kind of things.” That was the granularity of his detail so far.
Louis O’Hara (SF ) also representing Galway East, says the revised NDP is a missed opportunity for infrastructure in the west of Ireland.
“The Western Rail Corridor, double tracking of the rail line between Galway and Athenry, and the GLUAS, are all strategic projects which need to be delivered to promote development in the western region,” he said. “It is deeply concerning that none of these projects appear in this review, let alone have any funding commitment.”
Galway West TD and Minister for Disability, Hildegarde Naughton (FG ), has a different perspective. She says specific details of allocations for Galway will be published later in the year, and that if Sinn Féin was in charge: “They would have wasted all the effort and work of Irish taxpayers, and future capital investment in Galway would not have been possible.”
“This plan will upgrade water and energy infrastructure, deliver more roads and better public transport right across Galway. These are the building blocks we need to deliver thousands of new homes and ensure better communities through more schools and better access to healthcare,” she said. Naughton intends to specifically lobby her party leader, Tánaiste Simon Harris, to prioritise the Galway Ring Road, a new elective hospital in Merlin Park, and a redevelopment of University Hospital Galway.
The former government chief whip promised the Galway Advertiser that specific Galway projects will be announced in “coming months”, but nothing this week.
Meanwhile, fellow Galway West TD and minister of state, Noel Grealish, said he will “make sure that there is a regional balance in funding allocated, and that priority projects in the west get the go ahead,” he said.
“Critical projects for Galway include the Galway City Ring Road, the East Side Waste Water Treatment Plant, which will open up lands on the east of the city for housing and industrial development, and the Claregalway Bypass,” he said.
Galway West TD Catherine Connolly told the Advertiser she approves of infrastructure investment in principle, especially for waste water treatment and increased acute hospital bed and community nursing home provision, but was astounded there was no reference to the Gaeltacht, nevermind the NDP only being published in English. “This is truly shocking given the vulnerability of the Irish Language, and the acute housing crisis in the Gaeltacht,” she said. “I welcome the emphasis on infrastructure, but the details not yet published will be very important for [Galway projects].”
Galway Chamber of Commerce is demanding clarity on the NDP revisions, including key infrastructure projects such as the Galway Ring Road, Western Rail Corridor and the expansion of enterprise infrastructure to support indigenous and foreign business investment.
Karen Ronan, Galway Chamber’s CEO, also wants enhanced accountability and regular public reporting on NDP implementation: “To ensure delivery is matched by transparency and trust. It is essential that project pipelines and updated delivery timelines are made public swiftly to allow businesses, communities and local authorities plan with confidence,” she said, in a statement.
In summary therefore, sadly, nothing to see here yet.
