Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the capital programme, many of those who have appeared before the committee argued that the current capital programme is not sufficiently ambitious and health infrastructure is in poor condition. The Minister is committed to carrying out a review of the capital programme in 2017. Will provision be made in the expenditure commitments for 2017 to increase capital expenditure, bearing in mind the pressure the capital infrastructure is under and the potential for capital investment to create employment? Has the Minister engaged with the European Commission regarding comments by the President of the Commission that governments may have leeway to increase capital expenditure? The President of the Commission had a few things to say on the issue.