The Government's capital investment programme announced today sees €755m cut from capital spending next year. This will result in the deferral of a number of infrastructure projects.
OVERVIEW: Metro North, Thornton Hall prison and the Grangegorman DIT campus project will not go ahead. The new National Children's Hospital will go ahead but with funding from the National Lottery.
JUSTICE:
Capital allocation to Department of Justice for 2012 is €56 million (a 30 per cent reduction). The largest single allocation, €24.1 million, goes to the Prisons Service for the Prison Service Building Programme. The remainder (€31.9million) will be allocated across the sector.
* The reduced capital envelope this year will not allow the Prison Service to proceed with the construction of Thornton Hall or Kilworth prisons. Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said it is his "strong intention" to revisit the timeframe for delivery these two new prisons in 12 months.
* Work will continue on the completion of a 300 place prison wing in the Midlands Prison
* Work on refurbishment and in-cell sanitation project in Mountjoy Prison will continue.
* A Penal Policy Review Group will be established to review penal policy.
* An IT system will be built to implement the Fines Act 2010.
HEALTH
Work on the new National Children's Hospital will start next year with a completion date target of 2016. It will be funded in part through funding provided by the National Lottery.
Funding will also be provided for the development of new primary care centres.
A new central mental hospital will be built in Portrane, north Co Dublin.
The National Radiation Oncology Project will go ahead. A decision is pending on whether the programme is to be funded directly by the State or by a public-private partnership.
EDUCATION
The Government has committed to building 40 new schools by 2017 and the extension or refurbishment of 180 others.
ROAD AND RAIL PROJECTS
Capital spending on transport will fall by almost 50 per cent from €1.5 billion in 2011 to €0.8 billion in 2016. More than 85 per cent of spending is required to restore and maintain existing roads and railways, and to purchase replacement buses and trains.
* Luas BXD: Work on a link for the existing Luas lines and connection to Broombridge will to commence in 2015. The Government predicts it will create 800 jobs during the building phase and 60 more on completion.
* Metro North & Dart Underground deferred due to lack of interest from the private sector.
* Spending on infrastructure will concentrate on maintaining existing roads, railways and replacement of rolling stock & buses.
TOURISM
Resources will be focused on “refreshing” existing attractions.
SMARTER TRAVEL
Investment of €65 million to incentivise cycling, walking and other forms of public transport.
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