ARE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THE SOLUTION TO IRELAND’S INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIT?

ABSTRACT. The central question addressed by this paper, are PPPs the solution to Ireland’s infrastructure deficit. It examines issues surrounding the PPP process for the proposed €3 billion Dublin Metro currently at the procurement stage. The paper reviews the varying degrees that private sector capital can be utilised to produce services that are traditionally provided by the public sector. It analyses the various advantages and disadvantages that the PPP approach offers and examines possible future PPP projects in Ireland. The paper concludes that PPPs do offer a solution to the infrastructure deficit in Ireland, but only with sustained commitment at the policy and administrative levels, while proposing that the Irish Government PPP investment targets should be increased from 15 % to 25%