Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My question is along a similar vein to that posed by Deputy Humphreys in that it relates to capital spending and the July 2012 stimulus package of €2.25 billion over a seven year period.

For me and, I imagine, for the Minister the key issue is jobs. At issue is not only construction jobs because many projects are also delivering sustainable jobs. On top of that, if the investments are strategic in nature, then there will also be long-term jobs by way of making the economy more competitive in terms of broadband. I am keen to hear the Minister's views on the matter but, to be honest, I am not confident about it because I have tried to track various announcements dating back to the previous Government as well as the current Government. The projects take so long. From the date they are announced until there are diggers on the ground takes several years. Let us consider my area in Cork. Certainly, a good deal of money is being spent on education and there is a new prison in Cork but other projects seem to get stuck in bureaucracy. Is there any initiative within the Department to review how projects can be rolled out with a view to accelerating them in order that we can get the job creation benefits for which they are intended?

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