Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
482. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason that capital spending under her Vote group is -41% to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42531/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the National Development Plan, over 1 billion euro in capital expenditure has been allocated to my Department between 2021 and 2025.
The high-level, strategic capital investment priorities for my Department are set out in sectoral investment plans, including Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage; Linking People and Places; the National Sports Policy; the Audiovisual Action Plan; and Fáilte Ireland's Platforms for Growth, as well as being informed by cross-Government policies and strategies including the Climate Action Plan, Our Rural Future and the National Planning Framework.
My Department’s capital investment is centred on three high level objectives for the Department’s sectors:
- to promote Economic Recovery and Resilience
- to support Wellbeing and Social Cohesion
- to enhance Sustainability in its sectors and Guardianship of our unique cultural, linguistic and sporting heritage
My Department’s capital plan is also comprised of three strands of activity:
- Major capital projects;
- Capital investment and infrastructure programmes; and,
- Capital grant schemes.
Major capital projects under my Department’s aegis are appraised, planned, implemented and evaluated in line with the Public Spending Code and best practice guidance outlined in the Capital Works Management Framework published by the Office of Government Procurement. The majority of these capital projects are moving through appraisal stages, and a number of projects are at implementation stage or are nearing implementation stage. My Department is determined to ensure that significant and appropriate appraisal takes place in order to ensure that the delivery of these major capital projects will provide value for money.
My Department is also progressing a range of other initiatives under the other two strands of investment activity (grant schemes and investment programmes) which are delivering improved tourism, cultural, sporting and linguistic infrastructure and investment to communities across Ireland. Key programmes include the Cultural Capital Scheme, the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme, the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme, the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund, and the Gaeltacht and Language Support Schemes.
Additionally, my Department is working with bodies under its aegis like Screen Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Fáilte Ireland and local authorities on a broad range of projects, programmes and schemes to enhance our tourism, culture, art, Gaeltacht, sport and media infrastructure.
The nature of the capital investment activities in my Department means that expenditure typically requires that funding is drawn-down by external organisations and is subject to the project timelines of such organisations. This can mean that expenditure patterns and budget profiles are difficult to precisely predict.
