Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of capital projects within his Department which in 2004 and in 2005 had an estimated cost of between €30 million and €50 million, and which would have been subject to cost benefit analysis had the newly announced criteria for such evaluations then been in force; and the total cost of such projects in each year. [35260/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department was not directly involved in carrying out capital projects of between €30 million and €50 million in 2004 or 2005. However, within my Department's agencies, two projects were approved for funding within this cost range.

One capital project was approved for grant aid of €48.25 million by IDA Ireland in 2004. This request was underpinned by a cost-benefit analysis of the proposed assistance. No claim has yet been made by the grantee against this approval, and consequently no cost has been incurred by the State in respect of this project to date. It is the practice of IDA Ireland to undertake a cost-benefit analysis in all cases considered for grant aid.

The FÁS board approved the replacement of the FÁS Tallaght training centre in 2004. This project has an expected gross cost to the State in the region of €30 million. However, the net cost is likely to be closer €22 million, as FÁS plans to sell land on the site of the existing training centre. Before the project was sanctioned by my Department, there was an extensive analysis of the long-term need for this project and a number of detailed options were considered. The costs of this project in 2004 and 2005 are €1million and €1.3 million respectively.