Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Spending under the public capital programme is at a record level. Many of the projects referred to by the Deputy are being delivered by it. In many cases — I accept not all — PPPs provide services such as water and sewerage schemes and housing and education services in a more efficient and speedy manner.

I have said many times in the past few years in answer to questions that until the Minister for Finance made changes, which he did recently, to the partnership rules, PPPs were not attracting enough of a critical mass of operators. It was not the case that investors saw great financial benefits from the process, rather they did not come here.

PPPs help in the delivery of sound capital projects on top of what the State is doing with its record level of spending under the capital programme. Good progress is being made in those projects under the control of the National Development Finance Agency. Many roads projects have been completed well in time and under budget to the highest international standards. This has also been the case in the provision of clean water and the removal of difficulties with sewerage systems. Dublin City Council has been involved in many of these schemes with the National Development Finance Agency and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Providing many such services would have taken longer if we were working in the traditional way. It does not happen in every case, but in many cases it does.

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