Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Dec 2001

Vol. 545 No. 4

Written Answers. - National Development Plan.

Billy Timmins

Question:

295 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the parts of the national development plan or the projects which have been put on hold or slowed down as a result of the downturn in the economy and the accompanying shortfall in incoming revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30692/01]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

The national development plan provides for a total investment of approximately £24 billion – 30 billion – in the development of economic and social infrastructure over the period 2000 to 2006. Of the total planned investment, approximately £19 billion – 24 billion – is for infrastructure programmes coming within the remit of my Department, including national and non-national roads, water and waste water, housing, waste management and urban and village development.

Satisfactory progress is being made by local authorities and the National Roads Authority on the implementation of these programmes. Expenditure on these programmes in 2000 amounted to £1.75 billion – 2.222 billion – which was in line with NDP targets. Good progress is continuing so far in 2001; provisional figures indicate that combined expenditure to the end of September 2001 on national roads, housing and water services amounted to £1.237 billion – 1.571 billion. A Supplementary Estimate involving additional gross spending of £213 million – 270 million – has been introduced and the following capital services will benefit: national roads £95 million – 121 million – and water services £63 million – 80 million.

The abridged Estimates for my Department for 2002, launched on 15 November, provide for an expenditure increase of 8% in 2002 by my Department over the 2001 revised Estimates provision. Taking account of the already unprecedented volume of investment in major NDP programmes, this increase will ensure a continuation of activity at a high level under these programmes. In the housing sector, the 2002 provision will ensure that local authority housing completions next year will increase by over 1,000 on the 5,000 completions projected for the current year. The voluntary housing sector will benefit from a ramped-up provision, and will receive an additional 5 million for its programmes. The housing regeneration projects for local authorities, notably Ballymun, will also see enhanced investment levels – increased by over 10 million – in 2002. The special programme for hous ing aid for the elderly will also receive an increase next year.

The provision for the national roads network improvement programme will allow the ambitious construction and improvement programme set out in the national development plan to continue. Allied to this, the maintenance provision for the national network will be increased to an all-time record level. The non-national network – which is being restored as part of a ten-year programme – is also set to benefit from increased investment. The Dublin Transportation Office's capital spending for traffic management measures will increase by almost 20%. Spending on the water supply and waste water treatment programme will also be maintained at a high level. The overall provision reflects the continuing emphasis on delivery of the necessary water and sewerage infrastructure over the NDP period.

In addition to the foregoing, the Minister for Finance has also indicated that he will be bringing forward additional measures to support NDP infrastructure programmes in the forthcoming budget. This continuing high level of capital investment reflects the Government's commitment to the implementation of the NDP, in particular the infrastructure elements of the plan, which are crucial to future competitiveness and social progress.