Vol. 528 No. 1
25 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the extent to which targets set by his Department in the context of the national plan have been achieved to date; the total level of expenditure at this juncture under the plan; his projections in this regard for the remainder of the plan; if he has satisfied himself that all the targets set are likely to be achieved on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29524/00]
The national development plan sets out a strategic framework for the development of economic and social infrastructure over the period 2000 to 2006 and provides for a total investment of approximately £21 billion, 1999 prices, for such development. The NDP has been further elaborated in the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme and in the Operational Programmes for the Border, Midlands and Western and the Southern and Eastern Regions, which have recently been approved by the European Commission. Of the total planned investment, approximately £15.7 billion is for infrastructure programmes coming within the remit of my Department, including: national roads – £4.7 billion; non-national roads – £1.6 billion; water and waste water – £2.9 billion; housing – £6.0 billion; waste management – £0.65 billion; and urban and village development – £0.1 billion.
Work is now well under way in my Department, local authorities and the National Roads Authority on the detailed programming of the work required and in the planning, design and implementation of individual infrastructure projects. Expenditure on these programmes in 2000 will amount to £1.791 billion, which is in line with NDP targets.
Every effort is being made to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of improved infrastructure throughout the country. As part of the effort, a broad ranging package of measures is being pursued under the direction of the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure Development to support the process of implementation. These include the promotion of public private partnerships, new procedures for improved management of projects, improved arrangements for dealing with archaeological requirement, a communications strategy at home and abroad to gain maximum support for the programme of investment, measures to increase the capacity of the construction industry, and the transfer of certain project approval functions to An Bord Pleanála.
I am satisfied that a good start has already been made and that progress will continue towards achieving the ambitious objectives set out in the national development plan.
