Capital Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 September 2010

Thursday, 30 September 2010

Questions (81)

Sean Sherlock

Question:

77 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the capital underspend to date in 2010; if this underspend is the result of a deliberate strategy to delay capital projects and to minimise the year-end Exchequer deficit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34042/10]

Written answers

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan)

While the rate of capital spending is a matter for individual Ministers, I am informed that the underspend so far is due essentially to timing issues and better value for money from lower prices. There is no deliberate policy of delaying of spending to minimise the year end Exchequer deficit.