asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (a) the progress made to date with capital development schemes; (b) the nature of each such scheme; (c) the date of commencement of each; (d) the cost of each, and (e) the number of persons employed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Capital Development Schemes.
As the reply includes statistical material, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have it circulated with the Official Report.
Following is the reply:—
State expenditure on capital development schemes in the first six months of the current financial year is given below under the same headings as in the Budget Statement.
|
Nature of Scheme |
Amount spent |
|
Housing |
5,549,000 |
|
Public Health Services |
192,000 |
|
Hospitals |
52,000 |
|
Agricultural Development |
1,065,000 |
|
Electricity Development |
2,100,000 |
|
Turf Development |
555,000 |
|
Telephone System |
850,000 |
|
Transport |
350,000 |
|
Schools and other State buildings |
395,000 |
|
Afforestation |
125,000 |
|
Tourist, Fisheries and Mineral Development |
33,000 |
|
TOTAL |
£11,266,000 |
With the major exceptions of the land rehabilitation project and works under the Local Authorities (Works) Act, 1949, both of which commenced last year, the various schemes comprised under the above headings represent, in the main, an acceleration and expansion of long-term projects of earlier origin, such as housing, electricity development, telephone extensions, afforestation, etc. The total cost of capital projects of a continuing character cannot be reliably estimated because of the unpredictability of price trends and other relevant factors.
State-financed schemes of capital development at present in progress provide employment for about 56,000 workers.