Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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31. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an overview of his submission to the mid term review of the capital plan; and his views on whether the capital budget for transport infrastructure is adequate. [41970/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As the deputy may be aware my Department' s submission was published recently on www.per,gov.ie at the launch of the review of the Capital Plan. Estimates of expenditure 2018 are still being considered by Government in advance of the publication of the Abridged Estimates along with Budget 2018. 

On Budget Day last year, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced that a review of day-to-day Government spending would take place in advance of Budget 2018. The 2017 Spending Review is the first in a series of rolling selective reviews, which will cover the totality of Government spending over a three year period to 2019.  The results of the first year of this new approach were published with Mid-Year Expenditure Review and can be found on the www.per.gov.ie site.  My Department also provided a comprehensive and prioritised analysis of capital expenditure needs in the areas for which I have responsibility and this can be found on that site also. A new 10-year National Capital Plan which will complement the National

Planning Framework Ireland 2040 will include both public consultation and input from my Department on infrastructure investment beyond the period of the current Capital Plan.

Clearly as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I will endeavour to achieve the greatest level of funding to support continued and necessary investment. However, I am conscious that all members of Government should be prudent and operate within the State's existing financial constraints. Of course I also need to balance considerations like the need to spend in order to maintain the integrity of our transport infrastructure. Such maintenance expenditure is in itself an example of prudent financial management.