Written answers

Tuesday, 4 December 2018

Department of Rural and Community Development

Departmental Expenditure

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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618. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the capital spend by his Department to date in 2018 including the capital carry-over from 2017, by subhead; the provision under each subhead including the capital carry-over from 2017 provided for in the Revised Estimates volume for 2018; the details of the overspends or underspends under each subhead; the action to be taken to deal with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50153/18]

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Revised Estimates for 2018 in respect of the Department of Rural and Community Development sets out gross capital expenditure of €87.5m; this is supplemented by some €7.7m capital carried forward from 2017.

€65.7m of my Department's capital allocation has been spent to end November 2018, with €29.5 million in capital expenditure due to be utilised before the end of the year.

I have set out expenditure to date in the following table against the total capital provision.

Close monitoring of expenditure is a matter of significant priority so as to ensure full use of our allocated resources, and that value for money is delivered in respect of our funding. Expenditure trends in recent years bear out the fact that an increased amount of claims for payment are made in November and December as projects and initiatives progress to completion and capital grant approvals are draw down.

It is not possible to identify at this juncture precise overspends and underspends on a subhead basis. I have identified, however, areas where some capital programmes are unlikely to spend their full allocation this year. For example, whilst LEADER activity is ramping up and a healthy pipeline of projects have been approved, the LEADER programme will not require its full allocation this year.

I have therefore been proactive in reallocating capital resources as necessary and where possible. For example, I have expanded the Community Enhancement Programme this year, increased investment in Libraries, and provided additional support to fund the Local Improvement Schemes. I have also supported the development of Coillte trails, Tidy Towns, Agricultural Shows and Men's Sheds Organisations.

My Department remains focused on ensuring claims are made and processed to ensure spend by year end. Monitoring expenditure closely continues and, if necessary, re-allocating resources to priorities elsewhere will take place.

I will ensure that in 2018 the resources made available to my Department will be fully utilised, delivering benefits for all communities and for rural Ireland.

Capital Expenditure to date

REV 2018 YTD - Actual
V42 – GROSS (€’000s) 95,208 65,738
A - REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT & REGIONAL AFFAIRS85,855 51,477
A.2 - ADMINISTRATION - NON PAY 166 169
A.3 - DORMANT ACCOUNT MEASURES 2,006 0
A.5 - NATIONAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES18,083 9,961
A.6 - LEADER - RURAL ECONOMY SUB PROGRAMME40,000 20,740
A.8 - TOWN AND VILLAGE REGENERATION 15,000 10,346
A.9 - RURAL BROADBAND, REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT600 288
A.10. - LOCAL IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES 10,000 9,972
B - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 9,353 14,261
B.2 - ADMINISTRATION - NON PAY 136 110
B.6 - RAPID 3,767 2,984
B.8 - PROGRAMME FOR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION 700 0
B.10 - LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT AND ARCHIVE SERVICE 2,750 667
B.11 - COMMUNITY FACILITIES FUND 2,000 10,500

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