Stimulus needed to get consumers spending

The manner in which the minister for public expenditure and reform has highlighted the latest enunciation of the capital spending stimulus plan this week is indicative of just how desperate this Government is to deliver anything in the way of good news.

The €150m capital investment plan subject to the strong press release and accompanying media circus this week is about the third time that this plan has been announced. But I suppose for a Government that has been forced to deliver so much bad news, news like this should be milked for all it is worth, and it is. While one can be cynical about the spin cycle politicians utilise, in the current climate any day the Government can announce a spending package has to be welcomed.

It is estimated that every €1m extra spent on infrastructure spending supports between 17 and 19 jobs while the work is going on, depending, of course, on the nature of the work.