Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 137: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the aggregate cost of projects which are to be supported by the Irish Government under the heading All Island Co-Operation outlined in chapter five of the National Development Plan; if value for money evaluations will be conducted in each project; and if a protocol has been worked out with the British and Northern Irish administrations as to the way evaluations will be conducted and monitored. [29437/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Chapter 5 of the National Development Plan sets out the existing level of co-operation with Northern Ireland across a wide range of areas and our proposals for significant Irish Government investment in North/South projects and initiatives of mutual benefit. Progress has been made on agreeing these with the British Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, since its restoration. The initiatives and strategic projects outlined in the Chapter are at varying stages of progress. The individual cost and progress of projects is a matter for the particular Departments concerned. All-Island Cooperation will, along with the other horizontal objectives under the NDP of balanced regional development, environmental sustainability and development of the rural economy, be specifically monitored under the reporting arrangements for the NDP. It will also feature in the annual report on the implementation of the NDP, the first of which will be submitted to the Oireachtas in mid-2008.

As regards securing value for money, it is Government policy that all capital expenditure funded by the Exchequer is subject to the Capital Appraisal Guidelines of February 2005 as amended by the Value for Money Circular of January 2006. All capital projects are subject to project appraisal, with the nature and extent of the appraisal being related to the type and value of the particular project. The responsibility for undertaking such appraisals rests in the first instance with the individual Departments and Agencies. The primary purpose of the guidelines is to reinforce the need for rigorous appraisal of projects at all stages including selection stage.

The arrangements for the management and implementation of projects with a cross Border dimension, including the conduct of project evaluations, is the subject of ongoing discussions with the authorities in Northern Ireland.