Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The cross-departmental team comprises key officials in the various Departments. The guidelines set down in terms of cost benefit analysis are subject to independent scrutiny. The central expenditure evaluation unit in the Department of Finance, a question on which I replied to earlier, is charged with promoting best practice in project appraisal and checking compliance with the capital appraisal guidelines set down by the Department of Finance. The evaluation unit examines individual projects and the cost benefit analysis to ensure compliance with these guidelines and consistency. Projects costing over €30 million must be monitored through one system and different protocols apply to projects costing under €30 million related to value for money and the other procedures set down by the Department of Finance for capital project. I do not think there has been difficulties in housing, as there has been record construction. We have got on top of things in education. In transport, 11 of the last 14 major contracts have come in on time and on budget. The health area is slow in comparison to those areas in which the private sector operates. That is a reality. Across all other areas, the departmental team drives matters very successfully. A total of €16 billion will be put into transport infrastructure under the next national development plan. The total cost of transport under the next plan will be €33 billion. Roads, airports and other infrastructure are being dealt with very efficiently.

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