asked the Minister for Finance if he will state in respect of the current year the amount expended at the last available date on (a) the Estimates originally passed, and (b) Supplementary Estimates passed by the Dáil to date giving details of the amounts expended on each such Supplementary Estimate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Amount Spent on Estimates.
Supplementary Estimates are based on an assessment by the Departments concerned of the extent to which the provision already made for the services which they administer requires to be supplemented in order to meet prospective expenditure within the financial year. The original and Supplementary Votes form one provision out of which expenditure is defrayed and, apart from services for which the Supplementary Estimate is the sole provision, it is not possible to distinguish between expenditure from original and Supplementary Votes. Exchequer issues for Supply Services (original plus supplementary) in the period 1st April, 1951, to 23rd February, 1952, amounted to £73,535,174. This figure includes issues totalling £4,166,860 in respect of the following Supplementary Estimates taken in the period to 31st December, 1951:—
|
Vote No. |
Service |
Amount of Supplementary Estimate |
Issued |
|
£ |
£ |
||
|
23 |
Miscellaneous Expenses |
4,300 |
4,300 |
|
50 |
Industry and Commerce |
3,079,995 |
2,750,000 |
|
51 |
Transport and Marine Services |
2,230,000 |
1,350,000 |
|
56 |
Defence |
20,000 |
20,000 |
|
71 |
Increases in Remuneration |
3,683,000 |
40,000 |
|
72 |
Oifig na Gaeltachta agus na gCeantar gCúng |
4,140 |
2,560 |
Further issues will be made for the services provided for by the Supplementary Estimates on Votes 50, 51, 71 and 72 before the end of the financial year.
The Supplementary Estimates already taken in the current financial year total £11,302,885. In the case of those not specified above, the extra provision will be availed of during the coming weeks.
It should be borne in mind that in many cases the provisions made by way of Supplementary Estimate are drawn upon only in the final weeks of the financial year.
Is the assessment made only on quarterly dates? I think the Minister mentioned the 31st of December in his reply.
The assessment is not made only on quarterly dates but that is the most convenient date for the purpose of giving the answer.
Would it, for instance, be possible to get some information up to the last day of this month, after the month has ended?
The Deputy would be advised to wait until the close of the financial year.
I want the information for the discussion on the Vote on Account: I have most of it already.