Dáil debates

Wednesday, 11 May 2011

Jobs Initiative 2011: Statements (Resumed)

 

4:00 pm

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I do not know if the Minister for Transport, Deputy Varadkar, intends to retain it or if the new measure will be added to it. It was a considerable incentive to increase traffic, based on 2009 levels. Perhaps we will get further clarity on that.

With regard to capital expenditure measures, the Government talks about shovel-ready projects. This gives movement to the retrofit programme, although I understand the grants for various initiatives have been reduced by up to 20%. I would not be opposed to this if we can spread it wider over a greater number of people. We all know of constituents who have a backlog of applications and we would like to see those progressed.

The €30 million of the schools building programme includes €20 million that had already been voted through the House and was earmarked for various projects. The piece missing from yesterday's announcement are the projects that will not go ahead as a result of the reprioritisation of this €20 million. Are there new-build schools, or other programmes, that will not happen as a result of this? it would be nice to know, in keeping with the policy of openness and transparency. The Taoiseach said today he would be honest and upright. He said he would tell us everything and be clear and that would be the great difference. He now has an opportunity to live up to that and tell us where the €20 million will come from and what will not happen as a result.

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