Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2023
185. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide details on the causes of the capital underspend of 42% or €144 million below profile as outlined in the April Fiscal Monitor (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25834/23]
View answerProgramme A – Sustainable Mobility Active Travel and Greenways
In programme A, the Active Travel walking and cycling programme is on track. There is an underspend on Greenways, partly due to the timing of claims, but also due to a some schemes being behind profile on expenditure, including
• Athlone Bridge
• Turran to Shannon Harbour
• Southeast Greenway
It is presently expected that expenditure will return to profile as the year progresses.
Programme B – Carbon Reduction and Public Transport
Programme B encompasses EV grants and infrastructure and public transport investment.
EV Grants and Infrastructure
The reduction of the EV purchase grant from €5,000 to €3,500 was announced in March. Since the announcement, there has been a surge in applications. It is expected that this will be reflected in the expenditure figures. Additionally, the 2023 eSPSV (taxi) scheme was only announced at the end of February. While there is a steady stream of applications, no funding has been drawn down yet under this scheme.
Expenditure on the home charger grant was significantly lower than usual in March, likely due to the focus on the purchase grant. April saw funding go back to normal levels. Funding was expected to be paid on the Irish Rail taxi dedicated EV charger project by end Q1. However, this project has been delayed by two months and funding will now not be paid until May or June.
Heavy Rail Infrastructure
Investment is behind profile due primarily to timing of invoices and payments and large payments are expected in the coming months, with a return to profile as the year progresses. Charging infrastructure for the new DART+ Fleet was received in January. The remaining new Inter City Railcars (ICRs) were delivered in March. Three tenders for the signaling element of the Cork Commuter Rail project were received and are currently being evaluated by Irish Rail.
Public Transport Infrastructure
The underspend for the year to date is primarily due to:
• The timing of tender documents for the procurement process for the Client Partner for Metrolink. Documents were issued to shortlisted participants in January 2023;
• Timing of works for the BusConnects depot electrification programme. The design and build contract has been signed and Design Phase is in progress for Summerhill and Phibsboro depots;
• Pace of the planning approval process for BusConnects Dublin Core Bus Corridors and payments for new bus fleet;
• Delays to fleet acquisition for Regional Commuter Fleet Renewals and BusConnects Urban Bus Fleet
Programme C – Road Networks and Road Safety
At the end of 2022 TII was holding excess cash in its reserves, which has depressed the demand for drawdown of capital in 2023. While not impacting the progress of projects it is causing a temporary reduction in the drawdown of Exchequer funding.
Programme D – Civil Aviation
Regional Airports safety and security investment is profiled to be spent in Q4.
Programme E – Maritime Transport and Safety
The budget for 2023 is primarily to support construction of the three Coast Guard stations, Bonmahon, Westport and Greystones, project managed under the auspices of the Office of Public Works. Completion of Bonmahon is expected November 2023. Planning and design of Westport and Greystones is continuing, with good progress on this phase of each project expected during 2023.
My Department continues to monitor expenditure closely and expects expenditure to largely return to profile as the year progresses.
