Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the amount of PPP investment invested under the national development plan to date; the amount estimated to be invested by the end of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24627/07]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 118: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the amount spent to date under the national development plan programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24630/07]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the amount of funding spent to date on the national development plan; the amount estimated to be spent by the end of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24631/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 118 and 119 together.

The National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013 was launched by the Government on 23 January of this year. Investment under the Plan is grouped under five Priorities: Economic Infrastructure; Enterprise, Science and Innovation; Social Infrastructure; Human Capital and Social Inclusion. Each Priority contains a number of programmes which are further divided into sub-programmes. In relation to funding total investment under the Plan in the period 2007-2013 will amount to approximately €184 billion which is broken down as follows:

The €184 billion total investment under the NDP over the period 2007-2013 is comprised of approximately €100 billion of capital and €84 billion of current investment. Some €143 billion of investment over the period will be funded by the Exchequer. It is expected that PPPs will contribute some €13 billion and investment by Commercial State Bodies will total some €16 billion over the lifetime of the Plan. The remainder of the investment will be made up of Local Authority own resources and other sources (including the Local Government Fund, the Environment Fund and the National Training Fund).

Monitoring of progress under the Plan at Priority, Programme and Sub-Programme level will be undertaken by the Central Monitoring Committee (CMC) for the Plan which is chaired by my Department. The CMC is comprised of representatives from all relevant Government Departments, the Social Partners, Regional Assemblies and Authorities and Environmental Interests. The first meeting of the CMC is scheduled for later this year. As stated in the NDP, the CMC will assess progress under the NDP by reference to a Report which will be prepared by my Department based on material received from Departments and Implementing Agencies. My Department will also coordinate the drafting of an Annual Report on NDP implementation which will be submitted to the Government and subsequently laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas where it shall be subject to debate.

Details of the first year of implementation figures in relation to spend in 2007, including PPP investment, will be set out in the 2007 NDP Annual Report which will be produced and submitted to the Oireachtas in 2008. I can, however, inform the Deputy that Exchequer capital issues were above profile for the period to end September and this indicates that NDP spending from that source is going well.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the amount spent to date on the south and east regional programme under the national development plan; the amount estimated to be spent by the end of the NDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24628/07]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 117: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the amount spent to date on the Border midland western regional programme under the national development plan; the amount estimated to be spent by the end of the NDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24629/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together.

The National Development Plan/Community Support Framework (NDP/CSF) 2000-2006 has made a major contribution to our economic growth and employment levels and has significantly enhanced Ireland's competitiveness. The benefits of projects and programmes in areas including childcare, housing, rural development, training and business innovation have been experienced nationwide and the completion of many of these programmes has both improved our social infrastructure and encouraged regional development.

The ESRI (Oct 2006) in its ex-ante assessment of investment priorities for the NDP 2007-2013 concluded that "The NDP/CSF 2000-2006 has greatly enhanced the economic and social infrastructure of the State with major benefits to economic development throughout all regions".

The NDP/CSF 2000-2006 is implemented through seven Operational Programmes, two of these are the Border, Midlands and Western (BMW) Programme and the Southern and Eastern (S&E) Programme which are managed by the two Regional Assemblies. Both of these Regional Programmes complement the National Programmes and make a significant contribution to the socioeconomic development of the two regions.

The most recent information available to my Department, following the June NDP/CSF Monitoring Committee meeting, regarding expenditure under NDP/CSF 2000-2006 to the end of December 2006 indicates that some €2.8 billion and €4.1 billion has been invested under the BMW and S&E Programmes respectively.

The four priorities set out in the Regional Programmes are local infrastructure; local enterprise; local agriculture/rural development; and social inclusion and childcare. Highlights of the BMW programme include the improvement, restoration and maintenance of more than 26,000 kilometres of non-national roads; the creation of more than 18,500 jobs by County Enterprise Boards in supported enterprises; and the provision of over 12,000 additional childcare places. Highlights of the S&E Programme include the improvement, restoration and maintenance of more than 28,000 kilometres of non-national roads; the creation of more than 14,000 jobs by County Enterprise Boards in supported enterprises; and the provision of over 22,000 additional childcare places.

In terms of forecasting expenditure until the end of the NDP/CSF 2000-2006, it is important to point out that spending on EU co-financed measures can continue until 2008 as set out in the EU regulations. At this stage, based on the information available, it is estimated that some €3 billion and €4.3 billion will have been invested under the BMW and S&E Programmes, respectively, when the programme is completed.