The Northern Ireland Executive plans to set up a similar institution to the UK's National Infrastructure Commission, as part of its wider efforts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a new report on how the devolved nation can bounce back after the threat of COVID, the executive pledged to 'establish an Infrastructure Commission for expert led, strategic and public engagement approach to long-term infrastructure planning'.
This was one of more than 80 distinct interventions suggested by government departments in the report titled - Building Forward Consolidated COVID-19 Recovery Plan.
The plan details 83 'highly impactful interventions that will be progressed over the next 24 months' to help the recovery under four strategic priority areas: sustainable economic development; green growth and sustainability; tackling inequalities and health of the population.
It also commits to 'a strategic rail review promoting all island economic opportunities, connectivity and opportunities for growth'.
CIHT Northern Ireland said it was 'delighted to see the commitment' to create an Infrastructure Commission, adding that it follows the Institution’s participation on the Ministerial Advisory Panel which consulted widely on the matter and subsequently reported back to the Minister for Infrastructure.
The UK's The National Infrastructure Commission provides the Westminster Government with expert advice on major long-term infrastructure challenges. It is an executive agency, sponsored by the Treasury.
Model estimates for the Northern Ireland Gross Value Added (GVA) growth indicated an economic contraction of 11% in 2020, with forecasts not expecting a return to 2019 gross domestic product levels until 2023.
In May 2021, Northern Ireland's Department for the Economy launched its economic vision for the next 10 years, “10X Economy”.
