Capital Programme Expenditure

Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Questions (117)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

117. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason for the underspend of €4 million in capital funding in the expenditure profile at end November as part of the most recent analysis of gross Voted expenditure Exchequer figures; if he will provide a breakdown of the capital projects or outlays that have not commenced as yet, as per the profile; if any of the €107.2 million in total capital carryover in Government moneys for 2012 relates to his Department; the amount of same; if it has been spent; on what it has been spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52951/13]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

My Department’s combined capital budget for 2013 is €6.350 m (including carryover). This is expended mainly to support the Department’s ongoing investment in passport and ICT equipment and technology, as well as the maintenance of official premises at home and abroad. The Passport Service is in the process of upgrading its infrastructure as part of an ongoing multi-annual investment programme. Variance from profile is largely due to unavoidable delays in finalising the purchase of passport production equipment. However, it is anticipated that payments of the order of €1.6 million for new passport production machinery will be made shortly, with a further payment of a similar amount early in 2014. There will also be payments in relation to certain other ICT infrastructure and works on premises abroad. Accordingly, it is anticipated that capital expenditure will move substantially closer to profile by year end.

I can confirm that the sum of €400,000 was allocated to the Department in respect of capital carry-over for 2013. This sum will be spent fully on ICT and office accommodation requirements.