Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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12. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he plans to reallocate capital funding within the Estimate of his Department in circumstances in which there is slower than projected expenditure to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32406/21]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Does the Minister intend to reallocate capital funding within his Department's Estimates? There has been a slower rate of expenditure to date than projected, amounting to an underspend against profile of €150 million.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The capital budget for my Department for 2021 is more than €2.5 billion. My Department reports monthly to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on expenditure versus budget profile. In addition, I am also providing a quarterly report to the Government in respect of progress on the investment of capital.

Regarding the capital position at the end of quarter 1, expenditure in aviation was broadly on profile and expenditure in the maritime sector was slightly behind profile for the year to date. Regarding the land transport programme, some slight delays were experienced in respect of expenditure on local and regional roads, public transport asset purchases, station construction and new public transport infrastructure. Some of these were due to Covid restrictions and it is expected that expenditure will return to profile as the year progresses. Now that Covid-19 restrictions are being eased, I expect a clearer picture to emerge of progress on investment for 2021. In the event that any underspend emerges in a particular area or subhead, I will consider whether any such funding can be utilised by another subhead within my Department's budget. The possibility of seeking capital carry-over will also be examined.

We are already starting to reallocate some of the underspend. Deputy Ó Cuív will have seen in Galway and other cities and towns across the country new pedestrianised spaces and spaces for safe dining and sitting. As an example of responding to immediate needs and shifting budgetary priorities, we provided €15 million in emergency funding to local authorities to help set up such spaces for the outdoor summer. We also provided an additional €5 million to local authorities in respect of waste management, although that was from a different line. We have been trying to reallocate money to respond to the immediate necessities of Covid, and that is a good example of the useful use of those resources.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Department's capital profile was to have seen 25% of the money spent in the first five months of the year. That is just over 40% of the year. However, the Department underspent by €158 million in that period, or 30% against profile. As such, the Department already has a significant underspend. That is clear from the Exchequer returns to the end of May.

I like what the Department is doing in the towns and cities. It is great, but there is a world beyond them that is being neglected. In the past ten years, not one euro from the Department has gone to non-county roads and there has been an underspend to meet the needs of county regional, secondary and tertiary roads. Will the Minister consider giving money from the local improvement scheme, LIS, to non-county roads, something that his Department has not done for ten years? Will he also consider increasing funding for county roads this year to deal with immediate problems?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Those non-county roads are in private ownership.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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They are not.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I am sorry, but I am uncertain as to the definitions the Deputy is using. Funding is always being sought for various categories of road, but the priority is the public road network.

There has been significant investment in local roads across the country and there has been no delay in the spending allocated. However, there has been a certain underspend because of Covid. Certain non-essential works were not continued during the first four or five months of the pandemic. There was a natural holding back. My expectation is that the Department of Transport will not have a significant underspend by the end of the year. If there is, we will manage it as a capital carry-over so that we can invest in the same urgent issues next year. I do not want to see us going short on our works programme.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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What was the Department's capital carry-over from last year to this year? I am interested in getting the answer to that question. Will the Minister check as regards the roads done under the LIS that are public but not in the charge of local authorities? There is a difference. They are not privately owned. They are all public rights of way. Would the Minister consider providing extra funding to counties that could spend it on urgent works on county roads and non-county roads?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The carry-over from last year was €110 million, of which €41 million is still due to be spent.

When I describe a road as a private road, I do not deny that there is a public right of way or that such a road is important. As the Deputy said, though, there is a considerable requirement within the council's own works to maintain and upgrade the public road network. The allocation to counties in that regard is done on a fair per kilometre basis. Emergency situations are also provided for. I recently signed off on a significant allocation to cope with roads suffering particular problems due to heavy rainfall or other local circumstances. If there is any instance of roads requiring upkeep due to flooding, torrential rain or other local circumstances, we will not be short in providing funding.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that Deputy Griffin wishes to contribute on this matter.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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To reassure the Deputies, the profile of regional and local road grants for the year to date was for us to have spent €39 million. Despite the pandemic and the differences, the actual spending for the year to date is €36.39 million.

Most of the works do not start until spring, namely, in April or May. We do not typically do those works between January and March. Thus the real expenditure is due to occur in the summer months and my expectation is we will be back on profile if not ahead of it, so there is no shortage of funding or spending in this area. All resources are being deployed as we would expect.