Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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392. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason that current net Voted expenditure in her Department was €29 million, 8% behind profile at the end of October 2013; if she expects this underspend to continue to the end of 2013; if any unspent allocation will be available for any other programmes in 2013; if she anticipates that any underspend in 2013 will be greater than the level of cuts her Department made in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47906/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The profiling data to which the Deputy refers relates to information which was published by the Department of Finance in the context of the Exchequer Returns for end October 2013. The current expenditure shortfall at this time is primarily attributable to timing factors relating to fund disbursements under the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and the School Age Childcare Initiative.

While expenditure levels under these programmes, especially the ECCE programme, will increase between now and the end of the year it is expected that there will be a underspend under the School Age Childcare Initiative due to limited take-up of the scheme in 2013. The extent of this underspend, together with any other identified savings or pressures that may arise elsewhere in the Vote, is currently under examination within my Department and will be considered in due course in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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393. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason that capital net Voted expenditure in her Department was €12 million, 46.1% behind profile at the end of October 2013; if she expects this underspend to continue to the end of 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47907/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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A total of €25.76m in capital funding is available to my Department for 2013 and over 80% of this relates to the development of the National Children's Detention facility at Oberstown in Co. Dublin.

When profiling this expenditure at the start of this year, it was anticipated that the building work would begin earlier than has actually been the case. This was primarily due to detailed contractual discussions and negotiations and I am happy to confirm that building work has now started. However, as a result of these timing issues, the cash flow for the project has been adjusted and it is now anticipated that only €10m will be expended in 2013 as opposed to the original estimate of over €20m. It is still expected that 3 new units will be delivered by the 3rd quarter in 2014 to prioritise the accommodation of 17 year old boys currently the responsibility of the Irish Prison Service. The remaining units, to replace existing buildings, will be delivered by the 3rd quarter 2015. The overall project cost will not be impacted on by this cash flow adjustment with the balance of overall funding now being required in 2014 and 2015 to meet contractual commitments.