Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. I note that the stability programme update forecasts growth capital expenditure to rise from €11.5 billion in 2020 to almost €16 billion next year. I welcome that, but in 2022, gross capital expenditure is projected to drop to 21%. No sooner had I got my hopes up when they were dashed. Taking the four years after the high point in 2021, gross capital expenditure will be down, on average, by 22%. I am concerned that the increase in capital investment might come at the cost of squeezing public services and social protections. There is a risk that the Government in trying to balance the books before balancing the economy and will end up doing neither. Are we not better served rebalancing the economy in the medium-term rather than trying to balance the budget and running the risk of failing on both accounts?

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