Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 218: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of the €3.9 billion allocated to the infrastructure and capital investment programme for 2012 will go towards actual construction activity. [15824/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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On foot of last year's review of Exchequer capital expenditure led by my Department, I published Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012 -2016 in November last year. This document identifies the Government's key capital strategic priorities for the next five years, emphasising investment which will provide the greatest economic return or which meets urgent social requirements. While most of this investment will lead to construction activity, the capital budget encompasses enterprise supports, research and development capital, agriculture and forestry grants, information technology investment and replacement public transport vehicles, for example.

Of the almost €4 billion allocated for 2012, €514 million is allocated for enterprise supports and research and development capital investment. Investment in enterprise supports has the highest direct employment impact. Accordingly, the review made a point of protecting supports to the enterprise sector primarily through agencies such as Enterprise Ireland and the IDA. The unprecedented level of investment over the past few years and in 2012 delivered through the Enterprise Development Agencies can foster sustainable and valuable employment in the exporting sectors of the economy which will be critical to recovery.

€85 million will be invested in forestry and bio-energy and over €45 million on various agriculture and food development grants. Almost €110 million will be invested in communications and information technology by the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources, other Government Departments and Offices, the Gardaí, the health services and the education sector. Other capital moneys may be invested in vehicles or capital equipment grants for example. Ultimately it is a matter for each Minister how they disburse their capital allocations, within the context of relevant Government decisions and the parameters laid out in Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012 -2016.