Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013
299. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills according to the monthly Exchequer Returns if he will provide a breakdown of the the €69 million of capital funding spent by his Department during December; the reason 16% of his Department’s overall capital spend was held until December; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5134/13]
View answerActual capital expenditure in December 2012 in my Department amounted to €50m and this represents 11.6% of the gross capital budget of €430m for 2012. The €50m expenditure consists of €43m on schools, €6m on Higher Education and €1m on FÁS. The December expenditure compares with a €40m or 9.3% expenditure in October and a €38m or 8.8% expenditure in November.I can assure the Deputy that the expenditure incurred was based upon claims submitted by schools and colleges in respect of capital projects or in respect of site acquisitions and that my Department meets its obligations regarding the prompt payment of all valid claims. In addition to the €50m expenditure my Department identified as far back as mid-November a sum of €19m to carryover to 2013. This sum consisted of €10m in the schools sector that arose primarily due to slower than expected progress on site acquisition and €9m in the Higher Education sector that arose due to difficulties associated with the St Patrick's Teacher Training College project in Drumcondra.
