Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 23 Oct 1986

Vol. 369 No. 2

Written Answers. - Departmental Expenditure.

92.

Miss Harney

asked the Minister for Finance if his Department have been notified or been made aware or otherwise that any State-funded agencies have exceeded approved nett expenditure limits or are likely to exceed approved expenditure limits in any year from 1982 to 1986, inclusive; the amounts of these excesses in respect of each agency for each year; if it is now being considered by him that the relevant Departmental Vote for 1986 should be increased to finance these excesses; and, if so, by how much.

94.

Miss Harney

asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of all bodies or agencies directly or indirectly under the aegis of his Department to whom nett expenditure limits have been notified by his Department and who have exceeded or expect to exceed these limits in any or each year from 1982 to 1986, inclusive; and if he will state the amounts, estimated or actual, of these excesses for each year and the total additional increase needed in his Departmental Vote to enable him to deal with these excesses.

Minister for Finance (Mr. J. Bruton)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 94 together. In regard to Question No. 94, annual capital allocations are notified to three bodies under the aegis of my Department — the Agricultural Credit Corporation, the Industrial Credit Corporation and Fóir Teoranta. In 1984 and 1985, the Agricultural Credit Corporation exceeded its capital allocation by £1.036 million and £0.526 million, respectively. In 1982, 1983 and 1985, Fóir Teoranta exceeded its capital allocation by £6.1 million, £5.12 million, and £0.4 million, respectively. Neither body is expected to exceed its allocation in 1986. The Industrial Credit Corporation did not exceed its capital allocation in any of the years 1982 to 1985 and it is not expected to exceed its capital allocation in 1986. The excesses incurred by the Agricultural Credit Corporation and Fóir Teoranta did not cause any excesses on my Department's Vote.

With regard to Question No. 92, I have no responsibility for State-funded agencies outside the aegis of my Department. Accordingly, I am not in a position to answer in respect of them. I have already indicated the position in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department. I understand that other Ministers are answering similar questions in respect of the agencies under the aegis of their Departments.

93.

Miss Harney

asked the Minister for Finance if his Department or any body or agency under the aegis of his Department who receive most or all of their funding from the State have significantly increased their borrowings in 1986; and if he will identify these agencies and indicate the total increase in indebtedness of these agencies between the average level of indebtedness in 1982 and the average level of indebtedness in 1986 to date.

Minister for Finance (Mr. J. Bruton)

The only body under the aegis of my Department which receives the major part of its funding from the State is Fóir Teoranta. Fóir Teoranta's borrowings, in the form of repayable advances from the Exchequer, have increased from £91.28 million at 31 December 1985 to £93.96 million at 30 September 1986. Fóir Teoranta's indebtedness has increased from £49.5 million at 31 December 1982 to £93.96 million at 30 September 1986.

95.

Miss Harney

asked the Minister for Finance if the 1986 Vote or Votes to his Department include provision for the funding of excess expenditure over approved expenditure limits by agencies or bodies financed from his Department's Vote or Votes in respect of years prior to 1986; if so, the amount of the excess expenditure for 1982 to 1985 and the estimated projected excess for 1986; and the amount which is included under each subhead to finance this excess expenditure.

Minister for Finance (Mr. J. Bruton)

The only body or agency financed from my Department's Vote is the Economic and Social Research Institute. The 1986 Vote for my Department does not include any provision for the funding of excess expenditure by the institute in respect of any year.

96.

Miss Harney

asked the Minister for Finance if his Department or any body or agency under the aegis of his Department have sought approval for, or are considering applying for approval for, term loans or other loans to finance excess revenue expenditure.

Minister for Finance (Mr. J. Bruton)

No body or agency under the aegis of my Department has sought approval for, or is considering applying for approval for, term loans or other loans to finance excess revenue expenditure. My Department does not engage in borrowing to fund its own expenditure specifically. Borrowing activities which I engage in relate to the funding of the overall Exchequer borrowing requirement.