The Revised Estimates for 2018 in respect of the Department of Rural and Community Development sets out gross capital expenditure of €87.5m; this is supplemented by some €7.7m capital carried forward from 2017.
€65.7m of my Department's capital allocation has been spent to end November 2018, with €29.5 million in capital expenditure due to be utilised before the end of the year.
I have set out expenditure to date in the following table against the total capital provision.
Close monitoring of expenditure is a matter of significant priority so as to ensure full use of our allocated resources, and that value for money is delivered in respect of our funding. Expenditure trends in recent years bear out the fact that an increased amount of claims for payment are made in November and December as projects and initiatives progress to completion and capital grant approvals are draw down.
It is not possible to identify at this juncture precise overspends and underspends on a subhead basis. I have identified, however, areas where some capital programmes are unlikely to spend their full allocation this year. For example, whilst LEADER activity is ramping up and a healthy pipeline of projects have been approved, the LEADER programme will not require its full allocation this year.
I have therefore been proactive in reallocating capital resources as necessary and where possible. For example, I have expanded the Community Enhancement Programme this year, increased investment in Libraries, and provided additional support to fund the Local Improvement Schemes. I have also supported the development of Coillte trails, Tidy Towns, Agricultural Shows and Men's Sheds Organisations.
My Department remains focused on ensuring claims are made and processed to ensure spend by year end. Monitoring expenditure closely continues and, if necessary, re-allocating resources to priorities elsewhere will take place.
I will ensure that in 2018 the resources made available to my Department will be fully utilised, delivering benefits for all communities and for rural Ireland.
Capital Expenditure to date
|
|
REV 2018
|
YTD - Actual
|
|
V42 – GROSS (€’000s)
|
95,208
|
65,738
|
|
|
|
|
|
A - REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
|
85,855
|
51,477
|
|
A.2 - ADMINISTRATION - NON PAY
|
166
|
169
|
|
A.3 - DORMANT ACCOUNT MEASURES
|
2,006
|
0
|
|
A.5 - NATIONAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES
|
18,083
|
9,961
|
|
A.6 - LEADER - RURAL ECONOMY SUB PROGRAMME
|
40,000
|
20,740
|
|
A.8 - TOWN AND VILLAGE REGENERATION
|
15,000
|
10,346
|
|
A.9 - RURAL BROADBAND, REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
|
600
|
288
|
|
A.10. - LOCAL IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES
|
10,000
|
9,972
|
|
B - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
|
9,353
|
14,261
|
|
B.2 - ADMINISTRATION - NON PAY
|
136
|
110
|
|
B.6 - RAPID
|
3,767
|
2,984
|
|
B.8 - PROGRAMME FOR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION
|
700
|
0
|
|
B.10 - LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT AND ARCHIVE SERVICE
|
2,750
|
667
|
|
B.11 - COMMUNITY FACILITIES FUND
|
2,000
|
10,500
|
