I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 73 together.
The Government has already resolved to allocate funding in line with the objectives of Project Ireland 2040, and the National Development Plan 2018-2027 sets out the resource envelope to that end.
In my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at a Departmental level. Responsibility for delivery of individual projects within allocation rests with the relevant sponsoring Department or Agency.
I can confirm that the Government is making very significant investments under the NDP. Budget 2019 included a €1.4 billion (24%) increase in public capital expenditure this year. Public investment this year will reach 3.5% of national income (GNI*) compared to an EU average in recent years of 2.7% (GDP).