Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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55. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps she is taking to ensure the spend of all the capital allocation to her Department for 2020 in view of the low capital spend to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33588/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Revised Estimates 2020 sets out a gross capital expenditure of €168.6 million in respect of my Department. This includes a total of €18.6 million in capital funding on foot of Government’s capital stimulus package in July and the transfer of Island functions to my Department.

€81.2 million in capital expenditure has been spent to the end of October. As has been the case in previous years, capital expenditure accelerates towards year end and over a third of our capital spend was profiled for November and December at the start of the year. This acceleration is already evident with capital expenditure of almost €24 million in October, the highest monthly capital expenditure to date. I expect this trend to continue in the coming weeks.

With regard to ensuring the most effective use of the capital allocation, we have been proactive in supporting project delivery in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, for example reducing the match contribution required for Town and Village projects and tailoring the LEADER claims process to remote working situations.

My officials continue to closely monitor expenditure patterns, and to stay in close contact with local authorities on the progress of projects and planned spend. I have recently re-allocated €5 million from the €88 million Rural Regeneration and Development allocation to LEADER, due to the level of demand under the LEADER Programme. I will consider other necessary re-allocations of capital funding should the need arise.