Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
601. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which he expects to be in a position to meet in full the expenditure anticipated in 2020 and subsequent years in the National Capital Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20855/21]
View answerThe Revised Estimates for 2021 have been published, and were referred to the Dáil Select Committees on 16 December 2020. The Estimates provide Departments and agencies with a capital allocation of €10,081 million for 2021. In addition, and with support from the House, capital carryover of just under €710 million has been approved. This will bring the total Exchequer capital available for spending in 2021 to approximately €10.8 billion.
The Deputy will be aware that 2020 was far from an ordinary year, as reflected in the higher than usual requests for capital carry-over. Some of this relates to additional stimulus measures introduced in 2020 to help support economic resilience and recovery, which will now continue to be supported into 2021. As we know, the construction industry was not immune to the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has resulted in delays to the delivery of some projects. The disruption has unfortunately continued in 2021 but some key public infrastructure projects have been allowed to continue as they have been deemed essential.
A review of the NDP is underway, with the objective of updating the existing plan in line with commitments outlined in the Programme for Government. The review will take on board developments since 2018 such as the impacts of Covid-19 and consider important areas such as climate action, housing, balanced regional development, healthcare, transport, education, and the associated resourcing requirements. As part of the NDP review I will be looking at evaluating and improving the capacity to deliver public capital projects.
In addition, my Department will continue to engage with other Departments over the course of the year in respect of the management of expenditure within the agreed expenditure allocations.
