Closing Keynote

How we plan and prioritise – reflections from Department of Education and Youth and Department of Children, Disability and Equality

The current National Development Plan (NDP) reflects a record level of investment in public infrastructure.  However, the nature of multi-annual capital planning and programming is that demand will exceed the resources available in any given year, and prioritisation must be a core element of the approach. During this final Day 1 session, Emma Leonard, Director, Planning and Building Unit,  Department of Education and Youth, will give an overview of the prioritisation approach being implemented by the Department of Education and Youth.  This will bring together many of the strands discussed earlier in the day and provide context to the decisions that inform the progression of school building projects.  A State-led early learning and childcare capital programme was launched in January 2026.  Hazel O’Byrne, Principal Officer, Forward Planning and Delivery Unit, Department of Children, Disability and Equality will outline the objectives of the programme, the approach being adopted to implementation and the challenges and opportunities in this sector.  The session will be moderated by David Skene, Programme Manager, Planning and Building Unit, Department of Education and Youth.