I move the following Revised Estimates:
Vote 1 — President's Establishment (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €3,422,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Secretary to the President, for certain other expenses of the President's Establishment and for certain grants.
Vote 2 — Department of the Taoiseach (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €32,686,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Department of the Taoiseach, including certain services administered by the Department and for payment of grants and grants-in-aid.
Vote 3 — Office of the Attorney General (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €17,500,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Attorney General, including a grant-in-aid.
Vote 4 — Central Statistics Office (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €53,640,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Central Statistics Office.
Vote 5 — Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €8,271,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
Vote 6 — Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €68,355,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Finance, including the Paymaster-General's Office, for certain services administered by the Office of the Minister and for payment of certain grants and grants-in-aid.
Vote 7 — Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €268,735,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for pensions, superannuation, occupational injuries, and additional and other allowances and gratuities under the Superannuation Acts 1834 to 2004 and sundry other statutes; extra-statutory pensions, allowances and gratuities awarded by the Minister for Finance, fees to medical referees and occasional fees to doctors; compensation and other payments in respect of personal injuries; fees to Pensions Board; payments in respect of Pensions Benefit System, miscellaneous payments, etc.
Vote 8 — Office of the Appeal Commissioners (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €603,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Appeal Commissioners.
Vote 9 — Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €403,255,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, including certain other services administered by that Office.
Vote 10 — Office of Public Works (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €468,745,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of Public Works; for services administered by that Office including the Stationery Office as part of the Government Supplies Agency, and for payment of certain grants and for the recoupment of certain expenditure in connection with flood relief, and that a sum not exceeding €5,000,000 be granted by way of the application for capital supply services of unspent appropriations, the surrender of which may be deferred under Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004.
Vote 11 — State Laboratory (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €9,465,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the State Laboratory.
Vote 12 — Secret Service (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €700,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for Secret Service.
Vote 13 — Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €35,886,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor.
Vote 14 — Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €41,101,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Vote 15 — Valuation Office (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €11,344,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Valuation Office and certain minor services.
Vote 16 — Public Appointments Service (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €12,655,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Public Appointments Service.
Vote 17 — Office of the Commission for Public Service Appointments (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €1,204,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Commission for Public Service Appointments.
Vote 18 — Office of the Ombudsman (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €7,958,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Ombudsman, the Standards in Public Office Commission, the Office of the Information Commissioner and the Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Information.
Vote 19 — Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €434,887,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Probation Service staff and of certain other services including payments under cash-limited schemes administered by that Office, and payment of certain grants and grants-in-aid.
Vote 20 — Garda Síochána (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €1,480,021,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Garda Síochána, including pensions, etc.; for payments of compensation and other expenses arising out of service in the Local Security Force, for the payment of certain witnesses' expenses, and for payment of a grant-in-aid.
Vote 21 — Prisons (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €363,586,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Prison Service, and other expenses in connection with prisons, including places of detention; for probation services; and for payment of a grant-in-aid.
Vote 22 — Courts Service (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €77,619,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for such of the salaries and expenses of the Courts Service and of the Supreme Court, the High Court, the Special Criminal Court, the Circuit Court and the District Court and of certain other minor services as are not charged to the Central Fund.
Vote 23 — Property Registration Authority (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €41,472,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Property Registration Authority, and that a sum not exceeding €350,000 be granted by way of the application for capital supply services of unspent appropriations, the surrender of which may be deferred under Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004.
Vote 24 — Charitable Donations and Bequests (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €446,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Charitable Donations and Bequests Office.
Vote 25 — Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €2,661,735,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, including grants to Local Authorities, grants and other expenses in connection with housing, miscellaneous schemes, subsidies and grants, and that a sum not exceeding €6,277,000 be granted by way of the application for capital supply services of unspent appropriations, the surrender of which may be deferred under Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004.
Vote 26 — Education and Science (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €8,921,349,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Education and Science, for certain services administered by that Office, and for the payments of certain grants and grants-in-aid.
Vote 27 — Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €443,872,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, for certain services administered by that Office, and for the payment of certain grants.
Vote 28 — Foreign Affairs (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €206,762,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and for certain services administered by that Office, including grants-in-aid and contributions to International Organisations.
Vote 29 — International Co-operation (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €570,203,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for certain Official Development Assistance, including certain grants-in-aid, and for contributions to certain International Organisations involved in Development Assistance and for salaries and expenses in connection therewith.
Vote 30 — Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €270,998,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, including certain services administered by that Office, and for payment of certain grants and sundry grants-in-aid, and for the payment of certain grants under cash-limited schemes, and that a sum not exceeding €15,500,000 be granted by way of the application for capital supply services of unspent appropriations, the surrender of which may be deferred under Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004.
Vote 31 — Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €1,599,080,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, including certain services administered by that Office, and of the Irish Land Commission and for payment of certain grants, subsidies and sundry grants-in-aid and for the payment of certain grants under cash-limited schemes.
Vote 32 — Transport (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €2,515,935,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Transport, including certain services administered by that Office, for payment of certain grants and certain other services, and that a sum not exceeding €78,500,000 be granted by way of the application for capital supply services of unspent appropriations, the surrender of which may be deferred under Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004.
Vote 33 — National Gallery (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €10,934,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the National Gallery, including grants-in-aid.
Vote 34 — Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €1,469,387,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, including certain services administered by that Office, for the payment of certain subsidies, grants and a grant-in-aid, and for the payment of certain grants under cash-limited schemes, and that a sum not exceeding €18,326,000 be granted by way of the application for capital supply services of unspent appropriations, the surrender of which may be deferred under Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004.
Vote 35 — Arts, Sport and Tourism (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €524,076,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, including certain services administered by that Office, and for payment of certain subsidies, grants and grants-in-aid, and that a sum not exceeding €1,500,000 be granted by way of the application for capital supply services of unspent appropriations, the surrender of which may be deferred under Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004.
Vote 36 — Defence (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €786,253,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Defence, including certain services administered by that Office; for the pay and expenses of the Defence Forces; and for payment of certain grants-in-aid, and that a sum not exceeding €3,000,000 be granted by way of the application for capital supply services of unspent appropriations, the surrender of which may be deferred under Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004.
Vote 37 — Army Pensions (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €202,000,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for retired pay, pensions, compensation, allowances and gratuities payable under sundry statutes to or in respect of members of the Defence Forces and certain other Military Organisations, etc., and for sundry contributions and expenses in connection therewith; for certain extra-statutory children's allowances and other payments and for sundry grants.
Vote 38 — Social and Family Affairs (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €10,917,009,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, for certain services administered by that Office and for certain grants including a grant-in-aid.
Vote 39 — Health and Children (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €491,174,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Health and Children and certain other services administered by that Office, including miscellaneous grants.
Vote 40 — Health Service Executive (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €11,632,588,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the salaries and expenses of the Health Service Executive and certain other services administered by the Executive, including miscellaneous grants.
Vote 41 — Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Revised Estimate).
That a sum not exceeding €441,577,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2009, for the provision of certain services in respect of children and youth affairs, including miscellaneous grants and grants-inaid.
I am glad to avail of this opportunity to discuss public expenditure and, in particular, the Revised Estimates for 2009, which have been discussed by the relevant committees in recent weeks.
It will be useful to outline the economic context of the Revised Estimates. Our economy has been hit by substantial external and internal shocks and we are expecting a cumulative loss in national income of approximately 13% between 2008 and 2010. On the external side, the fall-out from the deepest and most widespread international recession in more than half a century is having major repercussions in Ireland, particularly given the globally integrated nature of our economy. Domestically, the adjustment in the residential construction sector to more sustainable levels of output will subtract nearly 4% from economic activity this year, accounting for roughly half of the anticipated annual decline in GDP. Arising from this are spillover effects to other sectors of the economy, as reflected in the weakening labour market in recent months.
Our approach is to position the economy to benefit from the global recovery as it emerges. Our export sectors are proving robust and our labour force continues to be highly skilled and flexible. We are continuing to invest in education at all levels in order to ensure we have the skills demanded by our increasingly knowledge intensive economy. Our international cost competitiveness is improving, due in part to wage flexibility in both the public and private sectors. This is a significant achievement which many countries would wish to emulate. Adjustments have been made to work practices and other labour market costs to safeguard employment.
The Government remains committed to providing a pro-enterprise environment and maintaining our relatively low tax burden on business. We are also maintaining capital spending at a high level by international standards to allow us to continue our investment in productive infrastructure. Through implementing the correct policies now we will safeguard our recent progress, much of which has survived the downturn, and secure our future prospects. Strong, sustainable public finances are key to ensuring confidence in the Irish economy and the actions taken by the Government to date to address the budgetary difficulties will ensure this.
The Government is committed to restoring order to the public finances and the allocations presented in the Revised Estimates for Public Services in 2009 play a key role in this. These Estimates reflect the necessary expenditure measures introduced by the Government over the past year while protecting possible vital front line services as much as possible. I will not recap the various measures that were adopted other than to say that there were four stages of budgetary adjustment since July 2008, including the October 2009 budget, the further savings secured in February along with the public service pension levy and the supplementary budget in the spring.
The process of adjustment for this year has been completed and amounts to a cumulative fiscal correction of 5%, one of the highest in western Europe. That the Government secured it within one year is a tremendous achievement. Given the scale of the international downturn, the adjustment was essential. It is obvious that international confidence in the country has recovered because of the steps taken by the Government, notwithstanding the banking sector practices that came to light. These actions were essential to stabilise the public finances and to ensure that the general government deficit does not exceed 10.75% of GDP in 2009. While this is a high-level deficit, it represents the most appropriate target for the year, given the current conditions in the Irish economy.
As Deputies are aware, the supplementary budget also set out a plan to bring the general government deficit to within 3% of GDP by 2013. This strategy has received the backing of the EU Commission. As the House knows, the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes, SGPSNEP, is reviewing the scope for reducing or refocusing the existing range of expenditure programmes. Given the scale of the expenditure adjustments now required, no area of expenditure can be excluded from this process. Not only are spending programmes being examined, but the overall efficiency of the public service is being considered, including any ways of doing business that are out of step with the needs of a modern, responsive public service. The group is also examining and will make recommendations for further rationalisation of State agencies beyond the measures announced in budget 2009. I expect to receive the report in the next few weeks. Clearly, this will give the Government options and enable a public debate on the choices that we face. How much time have I used?