My Department’s gross capital allocation for its range of programme and measures in 2012 was €43m. Some 26% of this, amounting to approximately €11.2m., was expended in December as follows:
Arts, Culture and Film €3.5m
Heritage €3.9m
Irish Language, Gaeltacht and Islands €3.8m.
These expenditure figures are provisional and are subject to verification by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
The spending profile expected over the course of the year is set out at the beginning of each year, based on the best estimate that can be made at that time regarding the delivery timeframes and associated payment milestones for the full range of programmes concerned. As the Deputy will appreciate, the actual pattern of spending that eventually occurs will usually show some variance from an estimate of this nature, for various reasons related to the particular projects concerned. In the event, it transpired that the actual level of spending in December 2012 was €3.7m. higher than was forecast at the beginning of the year.
I would point out that my Department's total expenditure in 2012 at €41.6m represents 97% of the actual allocation for the year. €1.2m. of the balance of €1.4m. related to subhead B.5 Natural Heritage (National Parks and Wildlife Service) and was identified for carryover into 2013 via the deferred surrender of unspent capital mechanism. The remaining €200k in savings were achieved against the Department’s own Administrative Budget.
When account is taken of the capital carryover, approximately 100% of the capital programme allocation for 2012 will have been spent. This underlines my commitment to ensuring that the maximum value is derived from my Department's budget in terms of maintaining, promoting and protecting Ireland’s heritage and culture, developing cultural tourism, advancing the use of the Irish language and supporting the sustainable development of the islands.