Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1099. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the capital provided to his Department in the estimates for 2019 by subhead; the provisional out-turn for 2019; the prepayments involved in circumstances in which certification has not been received confirming the completion of work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3474/20]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Further Revised Estimates for 2019 in respect of the Department of Rural and Community Development provided for gross capital expenditure of €138 million. These resources were fully utilised, with capital expenditure for the year of €137.9 million. The 2019 capital allocations and estimated provisional outturn by subhead are presented in the table below.  The provisional capital outturn will be confirmed in the Department's annual Appropriation Account which will be submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit in March 2020, with final account published in September 2020.

Together with the full capital spend achieved in 2018, this investment in rural Ireland and our communities is delivering benefits right across the country and is supporting the objectives of Project Ireland 2040.

The level of capital prepayments made in 2019 is currently being collated by the Department as part of the preparation of the Department's Appropriation Account.  A figure  will be finalised at the end of this month on completion of the draft Appropriation Account, with the final audited figure published in September 2020.

With regard to prepayments, these are sometimes required to aid delivery of  large scale capital projects where a level of advanced funding is needed to bring projects from procurement to construction phase. This assists lead partners to deliver projects which would have significant project financing costs. Prepayments are made only in limited circumstances, in line with the sanction in place for the Department, and with appropriate controls as set out in the relevant guidance and circulars.

At this stage it is estimated that for 2019, 17% of capital expenditure relates to prepayments. This value would include payments for some element of works completed by year end but not yet certified. The majority of prepayments will be accounted for by advances to large capital projects funded under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Library Development and Archive Service.

Capital Expenditure 2019