Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 512: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount that has been spent on the enterprise STI sub-programme in the national development plan in 2007 and 2008; if she will receive and allocate all funding promised under the national development plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23049/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The total amount spent on the enterprise STI sub-programme in 2007 was €15.8m current and €111.6m capital. The enterprise STI spend for the period January to May 2008 inclusive is €5.1m current and €29.6m capital.

The NDP allocation for the enterprise STI sub-programme for 2007 was €16.9m current and €106.7m capital. The outturn for 2007 represents a saving of €1.1m in current expenditure and an increase of €5.0m in capital expenditure. The current savings arise from normal fluctuations in programme costs and delays in a small number of programmes, and the increase in capital expenditure was met through capital carry over from 2006. The NDP projections for 2008 for the enterprise STI sub-programme are €17.7m current and €126.6m capital. The actual allocations in the 2008 Revised Estimates are €15.8m current and €126.6m capital. A lower than anticipated increase to STI awareness activity was agreed pending the outcome of an international review of needs in this area. It will be clear from the foregoing that substantially all funding promised under the NDP has been made available. It is expected that the 2008 allocations will be spent, but many of the programmes funded by the enterprise sub-programme are demand led, and variations may arise as a result of issues with timing and demand.

It should be noted that there is a further €5m allocation under the enterprise sub-programme in each of the years 2007 and 2008 relating to the National Digital Research Centre which falls under the remit of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.