Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The preparation of the next NDP (2007-2013) which is being coordinated by my Department is continuing. An extensive consultation process on the Plan has taken place. Formal submissions have been received by my Department from the Social Partners, the Regional Assemblies, Regional Authorities and a number of concerned interest groups including the Heritage Council, Comhar, the Combat Poverty Agency and the Western Development Commission. My Department has also had meetings with some of the bodies concerned. Consultation seminars in Dublin (S&E Region) and Tullamore (BMW Region) have also been held. In addition there has been extensive liaison between my Department and other Departments on the Plan. I envisage that a draft text will be submitted to Government for consideration in the near future. The Government has decided that the Plan will be published in mid January next.

The precise details of the Plan including indicative 7 year financial allocations will have to await its publication. Allocations will, however, be set out at national level rather than the two region approach of the current NDP. This approach arose from EU Structural Fund requirements but this will not be the case on the occasion of the new Plan. The Plan will have the promotion of regional development as a central objective. The regional dimension will be strongly based on the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) and on investment necessary to progress implementation of the NSS.

With regard to the issue of expenditure under the 2000-2006 NDP I refer the Deputy to my earlier replies to questions from Deputy Harkin taken on 10th October last.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The National Development Plan/Community Support Framework (NDP/CSF) 2000-2006 is implemented through seven Operational Programmes (OPs). The most recent expenditure data on the Plan relates to the period to the end December 2005. This data is set out in Tables 1 to 4 below. Data for first six months of 2006 will be available at end October 2006 following the meetings of the Operational Programme Monitoring Committees. I will write to the Deputy when this data becomes available.

The House will be aware of the general state of play in relation to expenditure in the BMW region from previous debates and questions on this issue. The figures reported indicate that some €12.1bn or 76% of the total original forecast for expenditure (Exchequer, EU and private) and €10.7bn or 88% of forecast Exchequer expenditure had been incurred by the end of 2005. This is a healthy implementation rate in view of the slow start up in some areas at the very beginning, the relatively disappointing response in certain demand lead schemes and the fact that Exchequer spending in relation to the Structural Fund OPs for the 2000-2006 period will in fact continue up to 2008.

There is a wide spread of results over the various OPs. The strongest performances are in the key Economic and Social Infrastructure OP and the Employment and Human Resources Development OP, the two biggest OPs, with expenditure at 113% and 96% of profile respectively. However, this is offset by relatively poor performance in the Productive Sector OP where expenditure is 34% of profile. The result here is due to a lack of demand rather than a lack of Exchequer resources. Results over the 2000-2005 period show that, from a slow start up, there has been a steadily improving trend. I have made the point previously that the overall outturn for the NDP is expected to be near to forecast by the end of 2006, but with some over-performance and underperformance of expenditure taking place within the Operational Programmes. It is also expected that co-funded measures under the Plan will achieve their full entitlement to Structural Funds in the BMW Region by the end of 2008, the timetable set out in the Regulations.

Table 1 sets out the original indicative total expenditure forecasts and the estimated total expenditure (Exchequer, EU and Private) incurred under each Operational Programme in the Border, Midland and Western (BMW) Region for the period January 2000 to December 2005.

The original Exchequer forecast and estimated Exchequer expenditure incurred under each Operational Programme in the BMW Region for the period January 2000 to December 2005 is set out in Table 2.

The figures reported indicate all demands for expenditure are being met. This represents some €12.1 billion or 76% of the total original forecast for expenditure (Exchequer, EU and private) and €10.7 billion or 88% of forecast Exchequer expenditure had been incurred by the end of 2005.

Table 3 below sets out the original indicative total expenditure profiles and the estimated total expenditure (Exchequer, EU and Private) incurred under each Operational Programme in the Southern and Eastern (S&E) Region for the period January 2000 to December 2005.

The original Exchequer profile and estimated Exchequer expenditure incurred under each operational programme in the S&E Region for the period January 2000 to December 2005 is set out in Table 4.

The figures reported indicate all demands for expenditure are being met. This represents some €32.6 billion or 96% of the total original forecast for expenditure (Exchequer, EU and private). The data presented in Table 4 shows that the Exchequer contribution to the S&E Region under the NDP has exceeded its original target by €2.21 billion to the end of 2005. The overall outturn for the NDP is expected to be near to forecast by the end of 2006, but with some over-performance and underperformance of expenditure taking place within the Operational Programmes. However, a complete picture of expenditure will not be available until the full year expenditure data for 2006 are analysed and reported at the Spring 2007 meetings of the Operational Programmes Monitoring Committees and when the co-funded measures under the NDP achieve their full entitlement to Structural Funds by the end of 2008, the timetable set out in the Regulations.