Call to trim business development groups
The number of State bodies charged with developing infrastructure must be slashed to protect Irish business, it was claimed tonight.
The Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) said the Government had to take the radical steps to cut bureaucracy or risk wrecking the economy.
Turlough O’Sullivan, IBEC director general, called on senior ministers to speed up road developments, boost broadband access and tackle the deepening waste crisis.
“Rather than harp on about what should have been done, we should now be focusing on completing the projects that will bring most benefit. Future projects must be delivered more quickly and on budget,” he said.
“Ireland currently has a vibrant economy that is not matched by a world class infrastructure. While a number of current projects will improve our position the reality is that we are in a catch up phase. We must plan for the future.”
The IBEC chief said the planning, finance and delivery of infrastructure had to be streamlined.
Mr O’Sullivan said Ireland was suffering from an economic infrastructure deficit. He said if the matter was not quickly addressed the competitiveness of Irish enterprise would be hit hard.
It is understood costs could increase while productivity dipped leading to a weaker economy and diminishing tax returns unless infrastructure was improved.
IBEC claimed Central Statistics Office figures, estimating the Irish population would hit five million over the next 15 years, proved urgent action was needed.
“Ireland is far behind what we need in terms of waste management, roads and power generation. IBEC is setting out a new way to select, plan, finance and deliver projects to give taxpayers value for money,” he said.
Mr O’Sullivan called on the Government to take a pragmatic approach fast-tracking schemes to the front of the queue. He said projects had to be balanced against competitiveness – those providing the greatest returns should be put first.
IBEC said that it was regrettable that, after five years, the Government had failed to advance the pilot public private partnerships.
The group said extra finance could be raised through the greater use of tolls on existing and future national primary road projects, user charges for environmental, housing and healthcare projects, investment by the National Pension Fund Reserve in existing or future revenue raising infrastructure projects, and a possible infrastructure bond programme.
IBEC added a National Infrastructure Programme was needed to build on the National Development Plan and prioritise the next generation of infrastructure projects.
