Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yes, but that is for the package over the five-year period from 2012 to 2017. My question related to the reduction in the Exchequer capital programme, which has been reduced by €1 billion from €4.5 billion when the present Government came to office in 2011, to the present figure of €3.43 billion. There must be a commensurate reduction each year in the number of jobs. The essence of my question was whether this new additional funding will go anywhere near making up for the actual reduction in the capital expenditure. There is no point in stating the Government intends to invest an additional amount under a PPP if it also is reducing capital expenditure by a greater amount. I seek confirmation from the Minister because he stated the €150 million he announced recently was additional funding. However, as I understand it, it forms the first phase of the stimulus package announced last year. Does this then represent the first phase of the Exchequer element of the stimulus plan or is this a new stimulus plan on top of the €850 million?

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