Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Funding.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

162 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the Votes, if any, which are likely to be insufficient to meet requirements in all Departments in 1997; if so, the likely subheads to be affected; the extent, if any, to which this difficulty will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17593/97]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

As the Deputy will be aware, the following Supplementary Estimates for 1997 have already been approved by Dáil Éireann:

Vote		Additional Sum required
		£
6	Office of the Minister for Finance	5,000,000
32	Transport, Energy and Communications*	9,000,000
	Total	14,000,000

*Now Public Enterprise

In my statement on the Exchequer returns for the end-September quarter, I indicated that net current supply services expenditure could exceed the budget target by about £115 million, reflecting increased provision for hepatitis C payments, higher pay costs associated with the nurses' settlement, Army deafness settlements, together with some pressures on other Departmental spending including increased expenditure on anti-cime initiatives, and after taking into account significantly higher levels of PRSI receipts than originally projected. I also indicated that their overruns may be partially offset by savings which may emerge in the last quarter.

My Department is monitoring closely the position on all the Votes in consultation with Departments. It is too early, however, to give a precise view on the extent of the additional funding requirements. Full details of the Votes, specific subheads and the amounts involved will be available as and when Supplementary Estimates are submitted to Dáil Éireann.

I intend to submit the 1998 Abridged Estimates Volume to the Dáil shortly and to include in it the forecast 1997 outturn for each Vote and subhead. These forecast figures will be best estimates and subject to revision in the light of later information.