Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

While it has nothing to do with the question, some €1.44 billion is contractually committed out of a total of approximately €1.9 billion. Of a further €500-600 million for local authorities, some €126 million has been committed, accounting for another €300 million. The bulk of the national roads funding is committed, all except the €50 million. We did not cancel any of the projects listed in the newspaper reports but, in line with the question tabled by Deputy O'Dowd on local roads, the Department was told it would need specific sanction and none would be granted until after the capital and current expenditure would be decided in the budget.

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