Bernard J. Durkan
Question:141 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that Government spending to date is on target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10041/03]
Written Answers - Government Expenditure.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:142 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the Government Departments, if any, which have to date in 2003 exceeded their spending targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10012/03]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:143 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the action, if any, he intends to take to address departmental overspending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10014/03]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:144 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if Government spending under each heading is sustainable in the light of reduced income tax revenues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10016/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 to 144 inclusive, together.
I take it the Deputy's questions relate to voted current and capital expenditure.
The revised Estimates for public services published last February provides that net voted spending on departmental services will be €30.8 billion or 6.7% more than provided in 2002. Net voted expenditure to end March is 11.8% higher than the first quarter of 2002 but this, by itself, does not indicate an end year excess on departmental spending as compared with the revised Estimates projection of 6.7%. In fact, spending by Departments and offices to end March is some €440 million less spending than projected in the spending profiles for Departments which I published on 31 January last. Spending by the Department of Social and Family Affairs is slightly ahead of profile by €18 million against a total allocation of €1.3 billion. This is due to timing factors. Spending by all other ministerial vote groups is within profile at this point in the year.
As regards the sustainability of Government spending and income tax receipts, the end quarter Exchequer returns for both overall spending and tax revenue were broadly in line with expectations.