Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Feb 2002

Vol. 548 No. 5

Written Answers. - National Development Plan.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

77 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Finance the progress regarding implementation of the national development plan; if his attention has been drawn to the serious concerns expressed by IBEC and CIF regarding delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5560/02]

Ivor Callely

Question:

186 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Finance the progress of the ?52 billion NDP; if the investment will be greater than ?52 billion over the next seven years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5502/02]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

206 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if he has satisfied himself that targets in the NDP remain attainable in view of the likely budgetary situation in the medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5884/02]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 186 and 206 together.

Overall I am very satisfied with the implementation of the NDP. Good progress has been made in key areas of the plan investment, notably infrastructure, education and training and the promotion of social inclusion.

The Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme has performed especially well and the Employment and Human Resources Operational Programme is broadly on target.

In the regional OPs good progress has been made on most measures, especially the local roads, rural water, local enterprise, community development and child care measures. Progress on some measures was impeded by difficulties arising out of State aid approval and the foot and mouth disease restrictions. This applied especially to the agriculture and tourism measures. These were resolved during 2001.

The Productive Sector Operational Programme has seen lower levels of expenditure than expected. The demand-led measures have suffered from a lack of private sector investment due to the global economic downturn.

The issues raised by IBEC and the CIF have been mainly concerned with the infrastructure element of the NDP. In this respect there has been an excellent roll-out of the NDP infrastructure programme over the first two years of the plan. The evidence of this is visible throughout the country as infrastructure projects, especially in the transport and environment areas, of a scale never seen before in Ireland, are either under construction or at various stages of planning. Reflecting this outstanding performance, it is estimated that during the three years, 2000 to 2002, over €10.1 billion will have been invested in economic and social infrastructure under the plan. This is in excess of the commitment in the published operational programmes. More significantly, by the end of 2002 the Exchequer will have provided over €750 million more than originally promised.
IBEC and the CIF have recently focused particular attention on the NDP roads programme. Over the first three years of the plan the Exchequer has provided gross funding of some €2.5 billion for the this programme, which is €260 million above that committed in the published OP. Almost €1 billion is being provided by the Exchequer in 2002. Overall there is good roll-out of the programme in the first two years of the plan.
While resources to fund the NDP over the remainder of the plan will, as with all public spending, be subject to the ongoing budgetary situation, the Government remains committed to the implementation of the NDP, particularly the key infrastructure programme.
Top
Share