Joan Burton
Ceist:124 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the current position regarding the implementation of the national development plan. [25544/02]
Written Answers. - National Development Plan.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:205 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if a further review of targets set in respect of the national plan is required or likely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25918/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 205 together.
The most recent progress report for the National Development Plan 2000-06, which was presented to the NDP-CSF monitoring committee on 29 November last, illustrates that the plan is generally achieving good financial progress. Cumulative expenditure under the national development plan to the end of June 2002, the latest figure available, is over €15.4 billion. It is estimated that expenditure to the end of 2002 will total almost €20 billion.
NDP Exchequer investment in the key area of economic and social infrastructure – ESIOP – is well ahead of target. Taking account of the 2003 NDP capital provisions, including the budget day addition of €209 million, it is estimated that by the end of 2003 ESIOP Exchequer investment will be €12.2 billion almost €1.9 billion more than profiled. I acknowledged in my budget statement that cost increases have impacted adversely on the output and timescale of the NDP infrastructure programme but nonetheless significant physical activity is in progress under the programme including some projects unprecendented in scale and size.
As regards the rest of the NDP, the employment and human resources development operational programme is making good progress and cumulative expenditure is expected to be about €6 billion by the end of this year. The productive sector and regional operational programmes are behind target levels due to the downturn in the global economy and factors such as delays in State aids approval from the EU and the impact of the foot and mouth crisis.
Preparations for the mid-term review of the national development plan are now under way. The mid-term evaluation of each of the operational programmes will be commissioned shortly and they will be completed by the middle of next year. These will form the basis of the mid-term review of the plan as a whole, which will be completed towards the end of next year.
Question No. 125 answered with Question No. 77.