Mr. David Moloney:

I thank the Deputy for the question. The spending review papers predominantly relate to current expenditure, so they are probably not as relevant to the national development plan, NDP. Within capital expenditure, we have the public spending code which requires business cases to be created in regard to particular capital projects. That is important. We have seen from international evidence that setting out planning correctly and specifying and costing a project at an early stage is a very positive indicator of delivering that project on budget and on time. We know that is very challenging in regard to bespoke or megaprojects. It is less challenging in regard to more standardised projects. We are very conscious of that.

In regard to the issues raised by the Deputy on planning, I accept that planning is an issue that needs to be constantly reviewed and overseen. I have pointed out that there is a major project on planning currently being undertaken by the-----