Written Answers - National Development Plan.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
318
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the objectives set for his Department in the context of the national development plan which are unlikely to be achieved on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9020/03]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
319
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the extent to which objectives set by and for his Department in the context of the national development plan have been achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9021/03]
I propose to take Question Nos. 318 and 319 together.
The current national development plan, NDP, provides for a total investment of approximately €30 billion in the development of economic and social infrastructure over the period 2000-2006. Of the total planned investment, approximately €17.5 billion is for programmes coming within the remit of my Department, including housing, water and waste water, non-national roads, waste management, urban and village development, habitat protection and conservation, and heritage conservation.
Focusing on the principal measures, progress on housing, water and non-national roads has been satisfactory. Funding for housing has to date exceeded the projected figures set out in the NDP. A total of €1.6 billion was spent under the five housing measures in 2002, exceeding the NDP forecast by €122 million or +9%. Housing output has generally increased for 2002 in comparison with 2001, although it has not been poss ible to achieve the end-of-year NDP targets in all cases. However, the Government has been responding actively to the increased level of social housing demand need by expanding social and affordable housing output very significantly. Last year saw the delivery of the highest level of output under the range of social housing measures for more than 15 years.
As to NDP investment on water and sewerage schemes, the position at the end of 2002 was that €1.509 billion had been spent over the first three years of the NDP, slightly ahead of the projected spend of €1.485 billion. The primary focus to date has been on large infrastructural projects required to meet EU and national water and wastewater treatment standards. As a result of the advancement of these large projects, which are producing very substantial increases in water and wastewater treatment capacity in the early part of the NDP, the overall number of schemes to be completed at the mid-term stage is down on that projected. However, the Water Services Investment Programme 2002-2004 contains more than 600 individual water and sewerage schemes at various stages of development, which will be progressed over the NDP period. I am satisfied with the level of progress being made and that the overall objectives will be achieved.
With regard to the rural water programme, the bulk of resources is directed towards the improvement of drinking water quality. While expenditure to end 2002, at 79% of forecast, is behind forecast, it is anticipated that expenditure will be ahead of forecast for the period post 2003. The prime indicator for this measure is the number of rural households with an improved water supply. To end 2002, 145,000 households have benefited in this regard. This figure represents 55% of the final 2006 target.
Cumulative expenditure on non-national roads to the end of 2002 amounted to €1186.6 million, which represents 114% of the estimates set out in the NDP in 2000. An Evaluation of Investment in the Road Network, August 2002, carried out independently by Fitzpatrick Associates, economic consultants, confirms that good progress has been made under this measure. This report is available in the Oireachtas Library.
Due to delays experienced in finalising the waste management planning process, the waste infrastructure capital grants scheme was launched in March 2002. The scheme provides financial assistance to both public and private sectors for the provision of waste recycling and recovery infrastructure. On 7 November 2002, I announced the first round of grant allocations to local authorities totalling €14.3 million towards the provision of waste infrastructure. These grants will support the development of bring banks, civic amenity sites, composting facilities and the expansion of existing material recovery facilities, which will facilitate increased collection and recovery of recyclable materials in the years ahead. I intend to announce further tranches of allocations shortly to assist local authorities in operating recycling and recovery facilities. I am satisfied that rapid progress will be made in realising the NDP investment targets for waste management over the coming years.
Under the urban and village renewal measure of the NDP, good progress has been made so far as a total of 188 projects have been completed. Expenditure amounted to €28.4 million to the end of 2002, representing approximately 49% of the expenditure profiled for this measure to the end of 2002. This programme was not launched until 2001, and experience would suggest that there is a long lead-in time before such programmes gather momentum.
With regard to the habitat protection and conservation and heritage conservation measures, expenditure to end 2002 amounted to €38.23 million, of which €6.98 million has been spent on habitat protection and conservation and €31.25 million on built heritage conservation. The latter provision represents nearly 50% of the initial NDP allocation, while the former represents just over 16%, reflecting slower than expected progress on certain visitor centre facilities. These measures are now under review with a view to optimising their impact over the remainder of the NDP period.
I look forward to the outcome of the mid-term review of the NDP, which is expected in the latter part of 2003 and will provide an independent analysis of progress and make appropriate recommendations for programme adjustments, where necessary.
