Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

If the Deputy wants to do his sums, he has plenty of time to work it out during what they call the holidays. The NDP is the basis for continued investment in our economic infrastructure in the years ahead. Investment in key transport infrastructure remains a priority. Now more than ever, we must ensure we achieve value for money across all areas on public activity, including expenditure in transport projects.

Out of a gross spending budget of over €3.8 billion for my Department in 2008, I can manage the €20 million saving in capital funding this year without impacting on the delivery of our infrastructure projects. The bulk of the saving of €20 million is in the non-core capital budget. As much as €13 million will arise in the capital expenditure grant scheme for regional airports. There has been a slow drawdown of these grants by the airports due, I understand, to factors such as planning delays and the necessity for the airports to come up with their share of the capital project costs. So far this year, the drawdown is €2.5 million of the €24 million allocation, a spend which is considerably less than anticipated. Spending on property acquisition for metro north has also been slower than anticipated and I envisage the bulk of the balance of savings on capital, €7 million, will come from there, in addition to lower costs.

See this speech in context