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

It is fair to point out we had significant underspends in 2020 and 2021, which were largely attributable to Covid and the shutdown in the construction sector that took place for a number of months in each of those years. However, that same reason does not apply in the current year. Every line Department is making the case to my Department that it will spend its capital budget. Having provided resources, we want to see them spent and we want to see the projects delivered across the implementation of the national development plan.

It is too early to come to a firm view on this. We are keeping it under review and there is always the opportunity, where there is an underspend in one Department and where projects are ready to go in other Departments, to transfer that additional funding. That requires a Supplementary Estimate and a process has to be gone through but it is one we have done in the past. I am very much open to it because I want to see the capital budget drawn down and spent and I want to see projects delivered. We need a competitive element between Departments. If some Departments are better at getting things done, they should be rewarded by means of their budgets.

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