Michael Noonan
Question:21 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Education and Science the reasons behind the considerable underspend in the primary education budget for 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30474/04]
View answerThursday, 25 November 2004
Questions (25)
Written answers
Under the multi-annual capital envelope framework I can carryover 10% of my allocation for 2004 to 2005. I am projecting currently a need to do so. I plan to carryover €50 million and I am not limited to just €39 million as recently reported in the media. This means that I can allocate in 2005 the entire carryover to primary and post-primary buildings to match any amount not spent from the 2004 allocations for primary and post-primary school buildings.
I want to make clear that any saving in 2004 on school buildings is not due to any reduction or cutback in planned activity. Ultimately, what we are talking about here is that some payments on existing projects, that is, projects that have already been approved to go to tender and construction, will not be due for payment in 2004 as originally envisaged.
A record level of new school projects was commissioned in 2004 and, put simply, payments expected to fall due before the end of this year are now more likely to be met in early 2005. However, the decision by the Government to put its entire capital programme including the education capital programme on a multi-annual basis means that it is easier to manage and cope with that type of variation in projected spending.
The Deputy will appreciate that the 2004 school building programme is a multi-faceted undertaking involving many hundreds of individual projects ranging from new school buildings, extensions, refurbishments and other projects under the summer works scheme, temporary accommodation, permanent accommodation initiatives, remediation programmes and the contingency fund. In addition, my Department funds the purchase of sites for new school building projects.
In broad terms there are many reasons which can cause unexpected delays in the pace at which some projects advance. These include an appeal of planning permission by third parties to An Bord Pleanála contractors withdrawing tenders and design teams being slower than anticipated in getting projects tendered.
However, through the carryover measure and the overall management of my capital budget and Department spending to end of year I will be ensuring that all funds remaining for 2004, together with whatever allocation I receive for 2005, will enable me to maintain the momentum in the capital building programme started by this year's record level of activity.