Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Finance the breakdown of the persons responsible for the €3.75 billion underspend in the Border Midland Western region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3954/07]

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Finance if on the basis of information available to him from monitoring committee reports, including their assessments of continuing spend under the current National Development Plan, he expects that by the end of the programme period in six weeks time, the original forecasts for Exchequer and EU spending in the Border Midlands Western region will have been realised in full in view of the fact that there remains a €3.75 billion under spend with €500 million for roads under spend whilst planned motorways and dual carriageways planned by 2010 makes no mention of the N5/N26, N4, N2/N14 and N3 and only the 20% EU co-funded projects can be financed beyond 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41167/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 236 together.

Investments under the National Development Plan/Community Support Framework (NDP/ CSF) 2000-2006 are delivered through seven Operational Programmes (OPs) which are directly managed and implemented by Government Departments, the Regional Assemblies and other Agencies as set out in the following table. My main concern is to ensure that the available funds are allocated in a manner that meets the Government's objectives and secures full draw-down of Ireland's entitlement of Structural Funds. In that light I am anxious to ensure that both regions secure the EU and Exchequer funding available to them under the NDP/CSF.

Each Operational Programme has a Monitoring Committee which monitors financial and physical output targets and in turn reports to the NDP/CSF Monitoring Committee which is chaired by my Department. This Committee plays an active role in the monitoring of the NDP/CSF and meets at least twice yearly to review progress being made towards achieving objectives and targets. The Committee is made up of a wide partnership of interests, including implementing Departments, the social partners, sectoral interests, and members of local authorities representing the Regional Assemblies.

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 at the recent NDP/CSF Monitoring Committee meeting in December 2006 indicate that some €11.7 billion of Exchequer and EU expenditure has been incurred by the end of June 2006. The original Exchequer and EU forecast for the BMW region for the lifetime of the Plan is €14.5 billion. Accordingly, 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 led schemes and the fact that Exchequer spending in relation to Structural Fund Measures for the 2000-2006 period will in fact continue up to 2008 in accordance with EU Regulations.

Based on the most recent information available to me from Monitoring Committee reports including their assessments of continuing spend under the current NDP, I expect that by the end of the programme period in 2008, the forecast for Exchequer and EU spending in the BMW region will be in the region of €14 billion.

Originally profiled Exchequer and EU funds for the BMW region under the National Roads Priority of the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme is €1.8 billion for the lifetime of the Programme. Expenditure reported to end June 2006 stands at €1.5 billion with a further €300 million estimated to be incurred by the end of the Programme in 2008 bringing expenditure broadly in line with the forecasts. Overall responsibility for the planning and implementation of national roads projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority and the relevant Local Authority.