Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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324. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the amount of capital investment spending in each year since 2000; the percentage of GDP this was in each year; the EU average currently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29585/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The following table sets out the levels of Exchequer voted gross capital expenditure in each year from 2000 to 2013 in nominal terms and expressed as a percentage of GDP.

Figures for investment at EU level are available on the Eurostat website ().

The Eurostat estimate for average levels of Central Government fixed investment in 2013 was 2.2% of GDP for the Euro 28.

It is important to note that reporting investment as a percentage of GDP does not reflect either the existing level of capital endowment in the State or the level of maturity of the economy.  For example, in a more mature economy, the economic return for additional investment may be lower and the opportunity cost of diverting additional resources towards investment may be high.

My Department is currently conducting a review of capital expenditure priorities.  This will inform Government decisions on capital allocations for the medium term, and will form part of the forthcoming Budget deliberations.

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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325. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with regard to the Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-16: Medium Term Exchequer Framework, the deviations that have occurred from that plan since its publication; the Departments that have seen increases or decreases on an annual basis since; if he will provide the amounts for 2013 and 2014, respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29586/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The original allocations for the present five year capital envelope are set out in "Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-2016: Medium Term Exchequer Framework". The annual capital allocations for the Ministerial Vote Groups are published in the Revised Estimates for Public Services each year (Appendix 9 for 2012 and 2013, Appendix 8 for 2014). A table showing both the original and revised allocations at Vote Group level and any variance arising is set out as follows.

It is important to note that the allocations set out in the five year capital plan represent the proposed investment levels for that five year period. However, revisions to Departmental ceilings are to be expected in the annual estimates process for reasons such as transfer of functions between Departments, establishment of new functions and Votes, policy decisions which lead to a re-prioritisation of spend, changes to project timelines and revision of project costs caused by inflation or other supply chain factors.  In addition, over the last two years I have made a number of additional Stimulus investment announcements which have increased the allocations to Departments.  The 2014 figures in the following table show the allocations published in the Revised Estimates Volume 2014 (published in December 2013) and, therefore, do not include the further Stimulus investment of €194 million that I announced in May of this year and about half of which will be spent by Departments and agencies on the specified projects during the present year.

In facilitating flexibility within the envelope we have been able to meet the changing priorities and pressures without putting the achievement of budgetary targets at risk.

Gross Voted Expenditure

*  In 2014, the Exchequer is also making a direct equity investment of €240m in Irish Water.  As is normal for equity investments, this is part of non-voted expenditure of the Central Fund and, therefore, is not included in the above table which only shows Voted expenditure. 

# The 2014 figures show the allocations published in the Revised Estimates Volume 2014 and do not include allocations for expenditure on the further Stimulus projects announced in May 2014.