Regional moves are ‘on track’
The Office of Public Works, which is spearheading the decentralisation programme, was allocated €581m overall, in addition to €23.6m which was underspent this year and which will carry over to next year.
There is provision for €280m to be spent on decentralisation in 2006, compared with €75m in 2005, but the opposition parties claimed the decentralisation project was moving at an “extremely slow” rate.
The 2006 estimate for purchase of sites and buildings is €51m, compared with €31m in the 2005 Estimates - an increase of 64%.
As for new works, alterations and additions, the Estimates for next year predict a spend of €256.6m, a 43% increase on the 2005 estimate of €179.8m.
The spend on Rents, Rates and other costs will increase by 10% compared with the 2005 estimate, up to a figure of €127m.
An OPW spokesman said the Estimates were in line with the Total Capital Expenditure envelope for 2005 through 2009 of €905m.
YOUTH and sports facilities in the regions will get the green light next year following an 8% rise in the budget to tackle illegal drugs.
And more people will be taken on to staff youth centres built in recent years in the local drug task force areas in Dublin and Cork.
The increase in the Drugs Initiative budget from €31.5 million to €34m in 2006 will also fund programmes aimed at combating cocaine.
“I’m very pleased with 8%, when inflation is 3% or under,” said Minister of State Noel Ahern who is responsible for the Government’s National Drugs Strategy.
“The money will allow us to deal with all existing services and provide new ones.”
Mr Ahern said the increased funding will enable him to fulfil a commitment to staff new centres built under the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF).
He also said the budget will enable projects in the regions to go ahead through the Regional Drug Task Forces.
“The big thing last year was the first allocation for the regional task forces, but most of the money will be paid out next year,” he said.
He said the Emerging Needs Fund, set up this year, will deal with new drug problems, such as the rising abuse of cocaine.
NGOs yesterday welcomed the €130m boost in overseas aid spending for 2006.
Spending will go from 0.40% to 0.47% of GNP, rising to a total €675m. The increase was already indicated by the Taoiseach at a UN summit earlier this year.
Announcing the Estimates for 2006, Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern said: “It’s important for the outside world to know that we are not slipping back.”
Up to €75m of the €675m will be contributions by other departments, for example agriculture payments to the World Health Organisation.
It also emerged the Government plans to allocate aid for countries in five to 10 year cycles, as opposed to three years at present.
The Estimates also include €18m for the UN and other agencies, €82m for grant-in-aid, €22.5m for emergency aid, €4m for other international organisations and €3.5m for office expenses. Other increases revealed included a 45% rise in support for Irish emigrant services to up to €12m.
GOAL’S John O’Shea said the increased funds were “good news” but was adamant that those channelled to corrupt countries should be stopped.
Overseas Aid Minister Conor Lenihan said there would be a greater scrutiny on possible corrupt use of taxpayers’ money.
