Richard Bruton
Question:82 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the financial mechanisms in place to review infrastructural projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27692/03]
Written Answers. - Infrastructural Projects.
All major projects are subject to detailed assessment and evaluation including, at key stages, cost benefit analysis, in accordance with Department of Finance guidelines on the appraisal and management of capital projects. The development of PPP projects takes account of Department of Finance interim guidelines on the assessment, appraisal and procurement of PPP projects. These guidelines focus on ensuring that the use of the PPP approach is justified on a value for money basis.
Last March, at my request, a new control system for major infrastructure projects was put in place in my Department. The infrastructure projects include national road construction, the Dublin port tunnel, CIE and Luas projects. I have received monthly reports on each of these projects since April. I intend to publish the reports for the period between April and October shortly and thereafter they will be published on a monthly basis.
The State bodies under the aegis of my Department, which are responsible for the delivery of capital infrastructure are obliged to comply with the requirements of the code of practice for the governance of State bodies, including conformity with the guidelines for the appraisal and management of capital expenditure in the public sector. In addition to the these procedures a light rail monitoring committee is in place to monitor Luas. It comprises representatives of my Department, the Department of Finance and the Railway Procurement Agency and is assisted by independent technical experts who report to the Department monthly. The Railway Procurement Agency also reports monthly on programme and budgetary issues to my Department. My Department continuously reviews this and other information on the Luas project to ensure that the agency adheres to the highest standards of project management.
My Department also has in place an investment monitoring unit charged with overseeing the financial and physical progress of rail and bus infrastructure projects and ensuring the effective and timely financial reporting of capital expenditure by the CIE group of companies to the Department. The investment monitoring unit also engages consultants to conduct an audit of expenditure claims submitted to the Department seeking draw down of Exchequer and EU funding under the National Development Plan 2000-2006.
The implementation of the national roads and public transport investment programmes is further monitored by my Department through the monitoring committee of the economic and social infrastructure OP which represents Government Departments, implementing agencies and social partners and which meets twice yearly to consider progress reports on the implementation of the investment programmes.
Question No. 83 answered with Question No. 49.