Mr. John McCarthy:

There was one project where, at its highest point, the budget proposed was €5.35 million. Having gone through the four-stage approval process, it is actually being implemented at a cost of €4.17 million. For another project, at its highest point, budget proposed was €8.86 million, but it is being implemented at a cost of €7.12 million. There are very clear examples to show how the process has actually worked in getting better value for money.

I think the Deputy mentioned the enforcement division going on tour. The issue with it is as follows. What the four-stage approval process gives us is an opportunity to capture and consider potential increases in cost before they actually happen to see if can we actually strip some of them out. Ultimately, it is the Exchequer and the taxpayer that fund projects. With the enforcement division approach, very often one will have lost that opportunity because matters will have moved on.