Cowen defends new development plan

The next National Development Plan (NDP) will avoid committing to a "list of projects" but instead be a "high-level strategy document" finance Minister Brian Cowen said yesterday.

But during a heated debate on the joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance and the Public Service, the Opposition said the present plan had failed to achieve anticipated benefits, and accused the Government of manipulating evidence in relation to its success.

Of the €57 billion allocated under the present seven-year plan, €44 billion had been spent by the end of last year, Mr Cowen told the committee. The Government predicts spending to be on target by the end of this year.

The next National Development Plan will be implemented between 2007 and 2013.

Fine Gael finance spokesman Richard Bruton criticised the lack of progress on project completion.

"Significantly, the Minister's report cites delivery of projects in the NDP but does not compare them to the target set. By 2004, 80 per cent of moneys due to be spent on Waste Water Management had been spent, but only one third of the projects have been delivered. On roads 102 per cent has been spent but only 52 per cent of projects have been delivered," Mr Bruton said.

Labour party finance spokeswoman Joan Burton accused the government of failing to adjust the plan to the needs of a growing population.

"If we were in any other EU country of comparable wealth it would be possible to travel from Mullingar, Tullamore or Athlone to Dublin in 50 minutes because rail lines have been electrified. Our level of achievement is nowhere near the standard we need to have to maintain competitiveness," Ms Burton said.

The forthcoming census results could render the new National Development Plan - due to be implemented between 2007 and 2013 - redundant in its first year, she added.

However, Mr Cowen said that the plan had significantly boosted the nation's economy. "NDP expenditure over the period 2000 to 2002 has raised the level of GNP by over 7 per cent. Those are conclusions of the ESRI, not mine," Mr Cowen said.

Improvements were being make in achieving targets in other areas, he added, "17 out of 18 road projects last year came in on time and on budget.

" Projects over 30 million are now subject to Cost Benefit Analysis and the move to fixed price contracts will result in a shifting of risk from the taxpayer. I don't accept this contention that we are not achieving value for money," he said.

Chairman Sean Fleming called the committee to order on several occasions as the Opposition interrupted the Minister and accused him of failing to answer questions on project completion.

"Empty vessels make much noise," Mr Cowen said responding to an intervention from Ms Burton.

"It's a pity that the Minister isn't able to answer questions on this plan. He has no vision and no ideas," Ms Bruton said.