Comment last of the great big spenders

WOULDN’T it be great if we had a Government that could announce ambitious capital spending plans at the beginning of their term in office rather than in the dying months of the administration?

Not in Ireland, though. We get five years of Fine Gael and Labour blaming Fianna Fáil for all the country’s ills as they duly proceeded with all the punitive austerity measures agreed with the Troika before they came to power.

We’ve all had our pockets picked thanks to USC, property tax and water charges.

Homeless people are dying on the streets while families are forced to live in emergency accommodation. 

Those reliant on the private rental sector face continued insecurity and uncertainty.

Frontline staff in our A&E departments are completely overwhelmed by the demands placed on them on a daily basis as patients languish on trolleys in hospital corridors.

But like a gambler let loose on a stag night in Vegas, the Government suddenly has a €27 billion wad of cash that it needs to blow.

Most areas previously neglected by the State – from housing and policing to health and transport – will benefit from their munificence.

Naturally there are terms and conditions attached. The capital plan is of course predicated on the coalition being re-elected if it’s to continue on its spending spree.

It won’t happen overnight, such is the scale of their ambition. One of my colleagues, now aged in his early 50s, ruefully remarked that he’ll be close to availing of the free travel scheme by the time Metro North passes by his door.

Even the much heralded announcement of the extension of the DART to Balbriggan could turn out to be something of a damp squib. 

There is already a reasonably efficient commuter service operating on this line that will no doubt have to be downgraded when the line is electrified between now and 2022. Wouldn’t it just be cheaper to invest in more rolling stock and improve the service we have?

Whoever forms the next Government, it would be refreshing if they could set out their stall as early as possible. That way, we will be able to effectively judge them on their record when they stand for re-election in five years’ time.

In fairness, Ireland may well be better positioned to invest in a capital spending programme now than it was in 2011. 

Perhaps I am being over cynical in suggesting that last week’s big announcement was simply a blatant example of electioneering at its finest.

I would genuinely love to be proven wrong.