Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, I answered that. We set a target of 5%. We are getting towards that target. We are making progress towards the delivery of it. I will go back to the point I made at the start of my exchange with the Deputy. Looking at the increases in capital expenditure year upon year upon year, between this year and next year there will be an increased spend of €1.2 billion. Capital expenditure for next year will go up by 9.7% versus the previous year. That is three to four times the rate of inflation.

The question for all political parties as we consider the next Dáil, and even as we consider the approaching budget, is whether we believe there should be an overall figure by which the rate of total Government expenditure should grow. I believe there should be an overall figure. In the absence of that figure, we run the risk of spending money we may not have in the future. If we accept the premise of that figure, and if we are to spend more on current expenditure, which we are at present, it means we need to spend a little less on capital expenditure.

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