Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

If I heard correctly, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government also made substantial savings. This is another Department with considerable needs. What process is in place to ensure the money allocated is actually spent? If it is not spent, the question arises of how efficient the process really is.

In regard to more recent developments, in 2008 capital expenditure was €9 billion but it is expected to be €3.5 billion in 20015. That is clearly a significant decrease in expenditure over a relatively short period. Given that the economy is now growing, there will be wear and tear on infrastructure and capital depreciation. Could the lack of investment in infrastructure affect the country's capacity to recover? Is there potential for Ireland to access the European Investment Fund? I am somewhat worried by the comments from the Department of Finance which suggested that because Ireland has been reasonably successful in terms of our economic recovery, we might not qualify for that type of funding.

The more recent announcements by the European Central Bank may assist in a further iteration of the document before us in terms of allowing the Government to increase certain limits on expenditure. By making the cost of money to government very cheap, is there potential for us to increase the expenditure ceilings under the various headings?