Vol. 550 No. 1
147 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the degree to which the objectives set out for and by his Department in the national development plan are on target for achievement; if he proposes a revision of such targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7403/02]
The NDP provides for a total investment of approximately €30 billion at current prices in the development of economic and social infrastructure over the period 2000 to 2006. Of the total planned investment approximately €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 in implementation is being made by local authorities and the National Roads Authority with which responsibility for programming and management of individual projects rests. Expenditure on these programmes in 2000 amounted to £1.75 billion or €2.222 billion which was in line with NDP targets. Good progress has been maintained in 2001. Provisional figures indicate that combined expenditure to the end of 2001 on national roads, housing and water services amounted to approximately €2.66 billion or 106% of projected expenditure for the year. A Supplementary Estimate benefited national roads by €121 million and water services by €80 million.
The Abridged Estimates for my Department for 2002, published on 15 November 2001, together with the additional allocations announced in the budget, provide for an increase of over 18% in 2002 in spending by my Department over the 2001 Revised Estimates provision. Taking account of the already unprecedented volume of investment in NDP infrastructure programmes, this level of funding will ensure a continuation of activity at a high level under these programmes.
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 that are crucial to future competitiveness and social progress.
Question No. 148 answered with Question No. 142.
