Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

Much of it is about timing and the profile of that timing. The other reason we are not spending as much is that we are getting better value for money. At the start of the year a Department might propose spending, for example, €50 million on an item, but it ends up being cheaper because of the collapse in the construction industry. I understand reductions of approximately one third have been achieved in some schemes.

Deputy Boyd-Barrett asked about retrofitting. One of the reasons we did not spend enough on such demand-led schemes was that the level of applications from householders was not as significant as we expected. On the minor flood schemes, we may give local authorities €3 million and find at the end of the year they have only spend €1.5 million because they have not drawn down the funds. On demand-led schemes we are dependent on a third party or an individual drawing down the funds and in many cases they do not. That is one of the reasons that occurs.

Even though it is 2012 expenditure, we are talking about an amount of 2011 expenditure which is to be spent on various subheads. I give an absolute assurance to Deputies that we will get a detailed Vote-by-Vote breakdown into their pigeonholes by this afternoon. It is only right and proper that would happen. We do not want to do it this way. I ask Members who are members of the relevant committee to facilitate having this detailed engagement where an opportunity arises. I fully concede that it should not be in plenary session and should be at the committee where we can go back and forth on the many issues that arise. Ultimately it is an important procedure. Without allowing this to happen the State cannot spend €114 on various worthwhile projects. However, I accept we need greater scrutiny of those projects, and of the relevant capital envelope and that should happen at the committees. Some seven or eight Departments are involved and I am sure each of their Ministers would be more than happy to appear before the relevant committees to set out how that additional expenditure will be spent in this year.

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