Top job in Dáil for Laois TD on new committee

Laois TD Seán Fleming is set to lead oversight of Government plans to spend millions of euro of taxpayers' money building public infrastructure. 

The Fianna Fáil TD has announced that he is pleased to be appointed Chairperson of the Committee on Infrastructure & National Development Plan Delivery in the Oireachtas. It's a role that could put him in a position to lobby for the projects in Portlaoise, such as a new Portlaoise courthouse and prison expansion.

The Castletown-based representative outlined what he believed the role of the committee would be in a statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"This new Committee is vitally important for our country, and as Chairperson, my emphasis will be to ensure delivery of the National Development Plan and the major Infrastructure Projects throughout the Country.

"We all know many major projects in the State take far too long to be delivered, and these timescales must be shortened. Delays in delivering projects not only add to the costs but also prevent people from getting services on a timely basis.

"The Committee will examine every step along the way: from the initial concept of projects, through land acquisition, design, planning, tendering, legal issues, construction, commissioning and the overall delivery within realistic budgets. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Seán Fleming with Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin at the Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska. Pic: Michael Scully

"There will be a new National Development Plan published in the near future. Delivery of this plan and all the major infrastructure required across the country is essential for providing and improving services for all our people and the economic development of our Country for decades ahead," he said.

It's likely that Government Ministers will have to account to Dep Fleming and other TDs on the committee. These include the Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers.

READ ALSO: Laois town with 9,000 people as two gardaí for four hours 

He has said that the Programme for Government sets out the clear ambition to prioritise the delivery of transformative, critical and growth-enhancing infrastructure over the next five years by driving the delivery of projects as early as possible and within budget.

He has also told the Dáil that a key commitment of the Programme for Government is to prioritise an early review of the National Development Plan, which will be completed in July 2025.

A Laois project on the agenda of the NDP which Dep Fleming may be in a position to scrutinise, is the construction of a long promised new courthouse in Portlaoise. Expansion of prisons in Portlaoise is also a possibility for inclusion. 

Dep Fleming, who served as a Minister of State between 2020 and 2024, has an extensive background in oversight of Government spending.

A chartered accountant, he is a former Chairperson of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee. He was also previously Chairperson of the Oireachtas Finance Committee.

Dep Fleming was also Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Public Expenditure & Reform from 2011 to 2016. He is one of eight Fianna Fáil TDs appointed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin chair Oireachtas committees of which there are 28.