Dáil debates
Thursday, 19 January 2023
Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions
Capital Expenditure Programme
11:50 am
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source
I remember when carryovers were introduced. I had serious reservations because I felt they would become endemic in the system. In the public sector system, once a thing like that is opened up, they think that is part of what you do. You only spend a certain amount and carry over up to 20% or whatever you are allowed to carry over. One of my colleagues is smiling because the older heads around here know that is the sort of thing that happens in the system.
I accept the difficulties with planning and delays. My attitude has always been to put more projects on the conveyor belt, put them on earlier, anticipate these things and make sure at the end. The Minister knows it is easy to control capital - it is not like current - and ensure a full spend without overspending or bursting the budget. Will the Minister look at allowing more into the pipeline, reforming public procurement and reforming the public spending code, which has too many linear steps in it, rather than parallel steps?
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