Capital Programme Expenditure

Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Questions (315)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

315. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in respect of the €22 million in capital funding recorded as not spent under the expenditure profile at end November in the most recent analysis of gross Voted expenditure Exchequer figures, the reason for the underspend; 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. [52950/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

I can confirm that there is an Capital underspend of €22 million against expenditure profile to the end of November. Profiled expenditure including capital carryover was €79.631m against actual expenditure of €57.675 million. This is mainly due to lower than anticipated expenditure in a number of programme areas as set out in the following table. The figures to which I refer include capital carryover of €10.4 million which was allocated to Sustainable Energy Programmes.

Programme	Amount	Reason
Information and Communications Technology Programme	€10.4m	The majority of underspend relates to the Postcodes Project and in particular the time required to complete the procurement process to appoint a Postcode Management Licence Holder. Contract negotiations have commenced and the contract should be finalised shortly.
Sustainable Energy Programmes	€3.1m	Due to the timing of payments under the Better Energy programme. Expenditure is expected to be closer to target by year end.
Energy Research Programmes	€6.7m	There has been a lower than anticipated uptake on demand led research schemes.
Mining Services	€1.5m	Underspend is due to the time required to complete the procurement process for remediation of Avoca Mines; expenditure is delayed until 2014. Work at Silvermines is delayed pending finalisation of land acquisition.
Total	€21.7m	-