Brian O'Shea
Question:74 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the progress made to date regarding the implementation of the national development plan. [14649/03]
Written Answers. - National Development Plan.
The monitoring committees for each of the national development plan's operational programmes have met in recent weeks to consider the progress reports for their respective OPs. These progress reports illustrate that increased financial and physical progress has been made on all OPs. The NDP-CSF monitoring committee will meet on 13 June next to consider overall NDP progress, cross cutting issues arising from the individual monitoring committee meetings and other issues effecting the implementation of the NDP.
The progress report presented to the economic and social infrastructure OP monitoring committee illustrates that Exchequer expenditure for the first three years of the plan was €9 billion, about €1 billion ahead of profile. Actual physical progress has been below expectations due to significant cost increases, which I have elaborated upon in previous answers. In 2003, the Exchequer has provided almost €3.7 billion towards the ESIOP, which is €926 million ahead of what was originally planned for this OP in 2003.
The progress report for the employment and human resources development OP illustrates that good progress is being maintained, with expenditure for the first three years of the programme in line with the indicative OP provision. In 2003, the total public allocation, which includes Exchequer, EU and other public funds, to the employment and human resources development OP is €2.05 billion, which is almost €150 million in excess of what was originally planned for this OP in 2003.
The productive sector OP has continued to make progress in difficult economic circumstances which have significantly reduced private sector investment available to match Exchequer and EU grants. As a result total expenditure under this OP for the first three years of the plan will exceed €1.25 billion.
The two regional OPs, the Border, midland and western and the southern and eastern regional OPs, have reported improved levels of progress as measures which were previously delayed came on stream in 2002. The public allocation, which includes Exchequer, EU and other public funds, to these two OPs will increase by €182 million in 2003 over its 2002 level and will amount to some €1.066 billion. This is a significant increase given the present economic circumstances and it will enable further progress to be made particularly in the areas of non-national roads, micro-enterprise and childcare.
Question No. 75 answered with Question No. 73.