NDP running €4bn below target level

TOTAL expenditure on the Government’s National Development Plan (NDP) is running some €4 billion below what was promised.

When drawn up in 1999, the Government pledged that the ambitious plan would see over €52 billion of public, private and EU funds invested in areas ranging from health and housing to water and waste services over 2000 to 2006.

As part of that, the Government forecast that €40 billion would be spent on the plan from 2000 to the end of 2004. However, a briefing note from the Dept of Finance shows that target was not fully met.