Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 5 Jul 2001

Vol. 540 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Expenditure.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

212 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the current amounts being spent on roads by his Department as a percentage of the total departmental spending; the corresponding figures for 1980; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20726/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

222 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will express as a percentage of total departmental expenditure, the amount of funding spent on the public housing programme; the relevant figures for 1980; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20836/01]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 212 and 222 together.

Voted expenditure by my Department on the construction and improvement of roads is estimated at £693.1 million this year. This represents 30.1% of estimated total gross expenditure of £2.2961 billion. In addition, expenditure of £284.7 million is projected to be spent on non-national roads in 2001 from the local government fund.

In 1980, voted expenditure on grants for public roads amounted to £53.0 million or 18.3% from total gross expenditure of £290.3 million.

Voted expenditure by my Department on the provision of local authority housing is estimated at £374.6 million this year. This represents 16.3% of estimated total gross expenditure. In addition, £82 million is available to the programme from local authority capital receipts.

In 1980 this programme was funded by loans raised by local authorities from the local loans fund. A subsidy towards the cost of meeting the corresponding loan charges was paid by the Department to local authorities rather than direct capital grants as is the case at present. Subject to the above, voted expenditure on the programme in 1980 amounted to £62.1 million or 21.4% as a proportion of total gross expenditure.

It is evident from the foregoing that caution needs to be exercised in the context of comparisons between voted expenditure on different programmes in different years. Other factors make comparisons difficult. These include, but are not limited to, own resources expenditure by local authorities on roads, an increased range of responses to social housing need and changes in the nature and extent of programmes funded through the Department's Vote.