Mr. Robert Watt:

When the authorities are looking at perspective projects and going through the different stages of deciding on priorities, design, appraisal, going to tender and post tender, the sanctioning authority has responsibility then to ensure that the project is in line. In a road project, for example, that has a budget of X amount, where that project is over €100 million and the tender comes out way above that figure, the matter would be brought to the attention of the Government and it would have to decide whether to proceed with the road project. That higher or lower spend - that could also happen; it depends - would then be reflected in the allocations for the Department and we would then monitor it accordingly.