Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 161: To ask the Minister for Finance if consideration has been given to the prioritisation of projects in the National Development Plan in the event of a change in economic conditions; and the way that would affect interdependencies between programmes and projects. [4075/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The level of investment set out in the National Development Plan 2007-2013 has been formulated using realistic macroeconomic projections and on the basis of a prudent approach to budgetary policy. This approach should not add to inflationary pressures and should leave flexibility for budgetary manoeuvre in the event of an economic slowdown. In this scenario, further consideration of public expenditure priorities, including those covered by the NDP, may be required. I would, however, stress that the Government is committed to both the aggregate and sectoral composition of investment under the Plan and is confident that, through good management of the economy, it will deliver the necessary resources to fund the investment.