Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to have the chance, once again, to clarify things or to repeat what I have said before. I have never said we cannot use some of the surplus to increase spending on infrastructure. In fact, I have said the opposite. We can use some of the surplus to increase spending on public infrastructure and that is exactly what we intend to do. I did not catch the interview but I think the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael McGrath, said much the same thing on "Prime Time" the other night. The Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, has also said so. We are examining the national development plan, NDP, ceilings and will use some of the surplus to increase spending on infrastructure.

I need to be frank with the Deputy when I say it is not as simple as increasing the budget for a Government agency or semi-State body. There are also other constraints. Many public bodies are unable to spend the capital budgets we assign to them, not because they do not care, are not working hard or are somehow not competent, but because there are other constraints. Sometimes the constraint is finding skilled staff. Sometimes there are issues around materials, such as the availability of steel, concrete or timber. Sometimes there are planning issues and sometimes there are legal challenges. We are in a very different position than we were when I was first appointed to Government 12 years ago. We are often unable to spend the capital budgets that are assigned to Government Departments and agencies because of constraints that are nothing to do with finance or the competency of the people involved. It is the result of the other factors I have mentioned.

On the particular matter raised by the Deputy in respect of Miltown Malbay, Spanish Point and Seafield, I am told that Uisce Éireann is working on the issues raised in the prosecution and is currently carrying out a strategic assessment of the site, to include all of the feasible options to resolve the wastewater needs of the area. A project to upgrade the plant will be progressed once this has been completed and the Government is providing Uisce Éireann with sustained investment. Uisce Éireann is using this investment to improve services and remedy the fragility that is apparent in some parts of our wastewater services network. Uisce Éireann manages all aspects of the water and wastewater services planning and is responsible for the planning, delivery and operation of all public treatment plants. The Government is eager to see faster progress on these projects wherever possible and the budget provided to Uisce Éireann this year is €1.56 billion, which is not a small amount of money. That amount will be higher again next year.

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