Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I would much rather spend the entire budget but Covid, in particular, has had a significant effect on the likes of the NBP, where we have had difficulty, as in many other areas, bringing in key contractors, along with other elements that delayed it. In the area of sustainable travel, we took a conservative approach. Certain projects did not proceed through the first quarter of the year because the advice was not to have workers in the construction sector, other than in certain critical areas, out working. It could be argued we should have taken a different political call on that but the decision was to take a cautious approach in regard to Covid.

A significant element of spending this year was a carryover from the previous budget. The truth is, in both Departments, there has been a massive ramp-up in spending, with significant increases year on year, and there will be again next year. It can take time for the agencies and authorities to manage that and help deliver it. I expect to be able to carry over the funding and the spending in areas where there is an underspend will be spent in those areas, so it will not be lost. There will be catch-up, particularly in respect of the NBP and the greenways, two areas of underspend.

There are other factors. In the area of sustainable travel, as everyone will be aware, there are significant issues relating to judicial reviews and the planning system delaying many works we might want to see advance.