Backlash at Jack Chambers's purge to fund fast-track infrastructure projects
Sources this weekend said ministers are growing increasingly rebellious over Mr Chambers's inter-departmental review of Government spending.
One minister told Extra.ie: 'It's a purge – there is no other way to describe it. This is all about funding a big-bang style announcement on housing and water in the autumn.' Jack Chambers. Pic: Sam Boal/Collins Photos
Mr Chambers is heading the new Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce, made up of experts from key State agencies, including Uisce Éireann, the ESB, and Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
His remit will be to break down infrastructure barriers that block the delivery of housing and public projects, and to secure the significant extra funding required.
The Central Bank has said an additional €7bn is needed if the Government is to deliver an average of 54,000 new homes a year. The Central Bank of Ireland. Pic: 4H4 PH/Shutterstock
Meanwhile, Uisce Éireann has warned it will need €12.3bn over the next five years to upgrade our leaking water infrastructure.
In an indication of the scale of the funding challenge, one minister commented that the €13bn Apple tax windfall 'is only a downpayment on what is required'.
They told Extra.ie: 'The cost is going to be incredible. It's all about gathering up as much as can be found for housing, water, ESB, power and transport; these are the only things that matter. If it ruffles a few feathers, that's unfortunate.' Pic:Referring to mounting public and political dissatisfaction over missed housing targets, the Cabinet source said: 'We are in last throw-of-the-dice country. There is an updated housing plan, a Summer Economic Statement, a budget and a revised National Development Plan. It's like the bad old days. The minister [Chambers] ' is looking for money everywhere.'
However, not all of Mr Chambers's Cabinet colleagues are happy with the impact his spending 'purge' is having on their own coffers.
One senior Government source said: 'There is a huge tightening coming. Cutback time is on the way, is the message.' Pic: Sam Boal/Collins Photos
The source said there have been 'wars in [the departments of] Health, in Education, in Higher Education, in Culture' over the spending cutbacks, with particular tensions between Mr Chambers and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media over the sixmonth extension of the Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme.
One senior Coalition source told Extra.ie: 'There was fur and hair flying. The Gradgrinds in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform wanted to abolish it; [but] the minister, Patrick O'Donovan dug in; hence the artists got a six-month stay of execution.'
They added: 'There will be a lot more yelping before we get to the final allocations of cash in July.' Patrick O'Donovan. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos
But apart from housing, political concern is growing over the long-term consequences of the 37% growth in Government spending since 2021.
One minister warned: 'The truth is there's been a lot of waste. The intent of Mr Chambers and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe is to ensure the money goes on transport, housing, water and power.
'We have to spend on political necessities – no more luxuries.' Fianna Fáil TD and Minister for State Niall Collins. Pic: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie
Fianna Fáil TD and Minister for State Niall Collins added: 'The time to make tough, durable decisions for the common good is now.
'This Government is acutely aware of the need to chart new, more effective forms of governance and will not be deflected from this challenge.'
Ministers also remain divided on the ability of Housing Minister James Browne to manage the accelerating accommodation crisis.
One senior Government figure noted: 'No one knows who is running anything really. Technically, James Browne is in charge of Housing, but really, it is the Taoiseach [Micheál Martin] and Jack Chambers. It's a triumvirate, with Fine Gael being on the sidelines.'
Another source added: 'It is utterly chaotic. Micheál is trying to run the department, but he doesn't know what is going on. James, who knows what is going on, can't fully run the department because Micheál and Jack Chambers are actually running it, but he can't say it… It's not an example of good governance.'
However, some ministers were more supportive of Mr Browne.
One Cabinet member said: 'He is evolving in the job. He inherited a desert. His problem is he can't bluff, but possibly after [former housing minister] Darragh O'Brien, that's a bonus.'
Another source added: 'He is delivering at an increasing pace. RPZ [the move to make every county in the country a Rent Pressure Zone] was never going to have a happy ending. He managed it as best anyone could.'
The source said the choice of former HSE boss Paul Reid as chair of the new planning authority to replace An Bord Pleanála was 'clever? Small things first.'
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