Those who take time to read the evaluation will see that it is a broadly positive account of the performance to date of the plan. First, and crucially, the ESRI states that the overall strategy underlying the plan is as valid today as it was when it was first drawn up. On the overriding plan objectives which I outlined earlier, the ESRI states that the ".NDP has made significant progress towards its objectives of continuing sustainable national economic and employment growth and of consolidating and improving Ireland's economic competitiveness." Furthermore, the evaluation states that the NDP ".will have a sustainable positive effect on competitiveness and the productive capacity of the economy in the long term." As regards macro-economic impact, the evaluation states that "NDP expenditure over the period 2000-02 raised the level of GNP by over 7% above what it would have been in 2002." In the long run the level of GNP will be around 3% higher, representing a real rate of return on NDP investment of approximately 14% This is an exceptional economic performance by any standards, which proves that the NDP will leave a lasting legacy to the benefit of generations to come.