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Minister for Finance (Mr Cowen)
The text of the Plan already contains
specific targets including, completion of the Inter-Urban Motorways by
2010, a range of specific outputs in public transport in line with the
Transport 21 timetable, completion of the 2nd terminal at Dublin
Airport, commitment to meeting the housing needs of 140,000 households,
increasing annual tourist numbers to 10m by 2012 and for renewable
energy. In addition, Chapter 3 of the Plan sets out specific
interventions by Gateway area to be undertaken over the period of the
Plan.
More generally, financial and physical progress under the Plan will be
monitored by reference to a reporting template which will be prepared by
my Department. I anticipate that this template will encompass some
additional timelines for Plan investment implementation in addition to
those included in the Plan as published. A Central NDP Monitoring
Committee will also be established and there will be an Annual Report to
the Oireachtas on Plan progress.
Minister for Finance (Mr Cowen)
The level of investment set out in the
National Development Plan 2007-2013 has been formulated using realistic
macroeconomic projections and on the basis of a prudent approach to
budgetary policy. This approach should not add to inflationary pressures
and should leave flexibility for budgetary manoeuvre in the event of an
economic slowdown. In this scenario, further consideration of public
expenditure priorities, including those covered by the NDP, may be
required. I would, however, stress that the Government is committed to
both the aggregate and sectoral composition of investment under the Plan
and is confident that, through good management of the economy, it will
deliver the necessary resources to fund the investment. |
