Vol. 822 No. 1
6. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when Ireland will have in place a plan for the disbursement of European structural and investment funds for the period 2014-2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49582/13]
I ask the Minister to outline the plans for the European structural investment funds that will be available from 2014 to 2021. Is the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform the lead Department, on behalf of the Irish Government, in co-ordinating efforts in this regard?
I welcome the outcome of yesterday’s vote in the European Parliament on the cohesion legislative package. This brings to a close more than two years of negotiations involving the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament and the European Commission. I am pleased that during our Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Ireland was able to play an important role in that process.
The legislative package that was agreed yesterday will provide the basis for the next round of Structural Funds spending in Ireland and across the European Union. The package comprises a set of six regulations covering the European Regional Development Fund, ERDF, the European Social Fund, ESF and the Cohesion Fund. Political agreement on four of the six regulations that were finalised yesterday was reached under the Irish Presidency of the Council of Ministers. Along with the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, EAFRD and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, EMFF, these funds comprise the European Structural and Investment, ESI funds.
My Department has overall responsibility for EU cohesion policy and for the ESI funds, as well as specific responsibility for the ERDF. The Minister for Education and Skills has primary responsibility for the ESF while the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has responsibility for the EAFRD and the EMFF. Ireland no longer benefits from the Cohesion Fund.
Member states will have four months from the entry into force of the new regulations to submit a partnership agreement to the Commission. This will constitute a formal agreement between Ireland and the Commission regarding the use of the funds. Preparations for the new programming period have been underway in Ireland for the past year. This has involved public consultations as well as the preparation of needs analyses and ex-ante evaluations. The outcome of these processes will inform the preparation of the partnership agreement and related operational programmes through which EU funding will be drawn down. As regards the ERDF and ESF programmes, the issues likely to be addressed include combatting long-term and youth unemployment and social exclusion, promoting research and development investment and the competitiveness of the business sector as well as promoting an environmentally-friendly and resource-efficient economy.
It sounds as if the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will have a key role but the Departments of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Education and Skills will also have key, but separate roles. To go back to my earlier theme, I would like to see one, joined-up approach on behalf of the Irish Government. There must be one lead Department to co-ordinate efforts in this area and I hope it will be the Minister's Department.
As I understand it, up to €3 billion could be available for Ireland through the aforementioned funds. The Minister did not make any reference to expenditure in the health area, which was included under previous rounds of ESI funding. The Minister made reference to employment and education, which are fundamental aspects of this but I ask the Minister to confirm that expenditure in the Department of Health will be allowable this time.
Matching funding will have to be provided by the Irish Exchequer. In view of the cuts the Minister is making to the capital expenditure programme, can he confirm that all matching funds that might be required will be made available by the Government to ensure all available funding can be drawn down.
I can confirm that Ireland has been allocated approximately €1 billion from the Structural Funds, that is, the ERDF and ESF; €2 billion from the rural development fund, that is, the EAFRD; an additional €100 million for the Border and midlands region; and €150 million for the peace programme. Regarding the latter, it was not clear that there would be a Peace IV programme and we took initiatives in that regard. I met the UK authorities and we made a joint application to the Commission to ensure there would be a Peace IV programme and I know that was very much welcomed at the North-South Ministerial Council.
The rules regarding the six regulations and how they are to be co-ordinated are set at EU level. The ESF is a matter for the Minister for Education and Skills but, of course, bilateral discussions will take place to make sure there is no overlap and that our approach is co-ordinated.
On the issue of capital, the Deputy will be aware that the Department of Health is the only Department which did not have a diminution of its capital budget in the multi-annual capital expenditure programme. That Department's €390 million has been maintained and is being supplemented through the PPP programme and through the ring-fenced money for the national children's hospital from the proceeds of the sale of the national lottery licence.
In the justice area funding was available previously for a European territorial co-operation programme. Can the Minister confirm that this funding is still available? My question on health was not about national spending but about whether spending in this area can be facilitated under these new EU programmes between now and 2021. Spending on education and employment is permitted but the last time, so too was spending on health. Is it in or out this time? I ask the Minister to elaborate on the funding for the Border and midlands region to which he referred.
I will be in a much better position to answer the Deputy when we have the plan submitted to Brussels, which we are working on now. When the regulations are passed by the European Parliament, we can then formally get cracking on them. We might have some debate about it within the committee system before we make our submission to Brussels. I would be happy to facilitate that, as would other line Ministers, including the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Minister for Education and Skills.
The overarching priority, following the discussions we had in the run up to the adoption of the multi-annual financial framework, is youth unemployment. That will account for a big chunk of the spend. It was also agreed that we would front load that spend rather than spreading it out over the seven year programme. Prime responsibility in this area will fall to the Minister for Social Protection.
The territorial programme will involve ourselves, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Proposals will come from each of the three governments before the end of the year so that we can make a joint presentation. Again, once that is done, I will be very happy to give the Deputy the details.
7. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total value of goods and services purchased by the State and its agencies in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; the way the results of tendering competitions and details of the competing firms at national, local government and State agency level are published to ensure that there is full transparency and accountability in the public tendering process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49517/13]
There has been a general welcome for the establishment of the office of government procurement and the Minister has previously referred to the fact that we spend in the region of €9 billion per annum on public procurement. My question reflects the concerns of the Small Firms Association, SFA, and of small businesses generally, regarding the tendering processes under the new system. It is likely that small, indigenous companies will find the going much tougher because there will be a bundling of contracts which will make it more difficult for them to compete. Concerns have been also expressed around the issue of transparency.
I must declare an interest here. I am the director of a number of community companies which would be involved in tendering for government contracts. My question reflects the views of my colleagues in that context.
The Government is undertaking a significant reform programme in the public procurement sector. Part of this will involve a move towards centralisation of data collection in the area of procurement activity. Currently, public service procurement activity is transacted by several hundred contracting authorities throughout the State. Data relating to these individual contracts are not currently collected centrally and, therefore, they are not available for the Deputy. It is planned that under the new office of government procurement, OGP, a sizeable data collection project will be launched. That is crucial in order that we have full knowledge of the entire spend, which has not been the case up to now.
The national procurement service, NPS, does, however, collect statistics from across the public sector on all contracts in excess of the EU threshold where contract award notices were published on the national eTenders website. The data compiled represent a response rate of approximately 75% from all public sector bodies that were required to submit returns to the NPS to compile this data. The data have been collected from contracting authorities in respect of competitive processes that were in excess of the EU threshold and where contract award notices were published. In 2010 the value of these contracts for goods and services was just over €3 billion, and in 2011 the value was just under €2.3 billion. The figures for 2012 are currently being compiled and cannot be provided to the Deputy at this juncture.
It is a legal requirement that contracting authorities publish certain information on contracts awarded within 48 days of the award in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJEU. Particulars, including the type of contract, the procedure and award criteria used, the number of tenders received, the name of the successful tenderer, the value of the contract or the range of tender prices, and justification for the negotiated procedure, if used, are published. The necessary information can be submitted electronically to the OJEU through the eTenders website.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
Before signing any contract above the EU threshold, the awarding authority must write to all qualified tenderers to inform them of the result of the evaluation. This is called the standstill notice. In this notice, tenderers are informed of the name of the winning tenderer and how their tender compared to that of the winning tenderer. The Irish regulations governing the standstill notice were transposed from the 2007 EU new remedies directive under SI 130/2010. Under these regulations the standstill notice must give sufficient information to enable an unsuccessful bidder to decide whether there are grounds for seeking a review.
Number and value of contracts
|
Year |
Number of contracts |
Value of contracts €000 |
|
2010 |
775 |
3,045,000 |
|
2011 |
870 |
2,277,000 |
I welcome the Minister of State's comments about the data collection structures. Does he know how this is panning out in the context of the performance of smaller Irish companies, community-owned structures and so on? Is it inevitable that they will have to enter bundled contracts, perhaps with foreign operators?
What is the budget of the NPS? The Minister of State appointed four distinguished leaders to the organisation - Mr. Eoin Lonergan, Mr. Vincent Campbell, Ms Kathryn Smith and Mr. Brian Brogan, who was responsible for setting up the Health Information and Quality Authority. How many staff work in the office? One or two distinguished local government officials have been seconded to the new headquarters.
The Deputy has rightly raised the significant issue of the concern of many businesses about whether they will be shut out of the new procedure. It is crucially important that people know that the procedure we are following is the best international procedure through which they can win a greater percentage of the pie. It will inevitably mean that businesses will have to come together and pitch for contracts. I have said to the director of the NPS that in the future, as we move towards framework contracts in which a number of operators are engaged, there should be multiple service users and instead of having only one contract for a large domestic or international plc, we need to have a range of businesses involved, including SMEs, indigenous and international companies and those involved in foreign direct investment. That is the way to go. We need to have that to make sure the SME sector gets the support this significant budget can provide.
I again welcome the Minister of State's comments. It is critical to ensure ongoing close invigilation of this service to make sure our businesses do well. The Minister set a target of €500 million in savings over three years. How does he know that amount will be saved?
An Enterprise-Ireland-supported initiative, TenderScout.com, assists SMEs in coming together to make joint proposals to increase the 10% of domestic public sector contracts these companies currently have. Has the Minister of State met the promoter of that site, Mr. Tony Corrigan? How could his Department engage with that company to maximise the drawdown by Irish companies?
I have no difficulty meeting the individual. I meet hundreds of people engaged in this area and our office is open to that.
Deputy Naughten is correct, but the bottom line is that 70% of SMEs are not even registered on the eTenders website. How the hell they are going to know about this unless they are on the portal that explains the work that is coming up? This is a fundamental question. I am delighted this issue is being raised in the House in order that we can ask businesses to please register on the website and then they will know about every contract ranging in price from €3,000 to €3 million. There is no reason they cannot pitch for them. The portal is important because all of this information is shared on it. If we need to provide more help, I am more than happy to do that.
The Minister set a target of €500 million. We have to reach that target. I am pleased to announce that next year's target is €127 million, and that must be accounted for through savings in the new office. The staff know they must do this. There must be independent verification that those savings have occurred because it is crucial to the deficit reduction project and expenditure profiles that we make sure they are realised.
8. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the proceeds expected in 2013 and 2014 from the sale of State assets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49578/13]
I asked the Minister to outline the proceeds he expects to receive in 2013 and 2014 from the sale of various State assets such as Bord Gáis, the special dividend from the ESB, the national lottery licence and whatever other assets he has in mind.
I thank the Deputy again. A number of disposals are currently in train under the State assets disposal programme, some of which are likely to result in proceeds being received this year by the companies disposing of the assets. However, the timing of payment of such proceeds to the Exchequer by the companies by way of special dividend, which, as I explained previously, is the vehicle I will use, remains to be decided by Government at this stage, and will depend, inter alia, on when this funding is required by the Exchequer for the projects that are to be supported with these proceeds. The national lottery licence transaction is not part of the disposal programme because it involves the sale of a licence for a fixed time period rather than the disposal of an asset. I have explained previously how that will be dealt with.
No receipts have been provided for in the 2013 budgetary arithmetic in respect of State asset sales and I do not currently envisage any proceeds being required or received by the Exchequer in 2013.
In 2014, as I have constantly stated, I do not propose to set out publicly in advance my expectations of likely proceeds from the sale of State assets, as to do so would obviously signal the price that Government expects to receive in the middle of a sales process, which might influence bidders in submitting their bids rather than seeking to maximise the proceeds from the State asset disposals in question, which is our objective. However, as a provisional measure, a figure of €110 million has been built into the budgetary arithmetic for 2014 for projects to be funded from asset sales, €45 million of which will be used to fund the up-front Exchequer costs associated with the public private partnership programme. We need to put money in place in advance to tee up some projects and the remainder will be used to fund costs associated with the €150 million Exchequer stimulus projects announced in June of this year. It is my intention and hope to announce a further stimulus programme once the quantum of money becomes clear during 2014.
I acknowledge the Minister's comment. There has been lots of talk over the past year or two about using the proceeds from the sale of State assets for job creation and debt reduction. The Minister trumpeted his great achievement in this regard. To my recollection, this is the first time it has been stated on public record that the Exchequer will receive nothing from the sale of State assets in 2013. This issue has been flagged by the Minister for more than 18 months. We were told money would be generated this year to fund job creation, but he is saying at the end of November that no funds will be recouped under this heading this year. He said the Government will decide what to do with the money that is generated depending on where it needs to plug a hole in future years. He mentioned a sum of €110 million. Is that the special dividend from the ESB? What heading does this come under?
The Minister does not have to disclose the sale price of Bord Gáis, but he has put a figure on the sale of ESB plants in the midlands, notwithstanding the problems with the ESB's pension fund. We need to receive more information on this issue.
This is a multi-annual project. The first tranche of moneys that will come in to the Exchequer will be from the sale of the national lottery licence. I have outlined how we are spending €200 million of these moneys, with €50 million for roads, €50 million for the retrofit of local authority houses and €50 million for the schools building programme.
There are two sales processes in train, one of which involves the ESB. There is agreement on the sale of the Marchwood power plant in the United Kingdom, as well as a further shareholding in a Spanish plant. I will give the Deputy the exact quantum of these sales as soon as I get it.
It is interesting that on 15 December Ireland will have exited the troika agreement. Despite everything the Minister and his party said about what Fianna Fáil had committed to in the sale of State assets as part of the three year programme, he has now confirmed that the troika will have left without any proceeds being received from the sale of State assets. Much and all as he tried to blacken us with the claim that we had tried to include the lottery licence in the sale of State assets, we never committed to it in the original memorandum of understanding. Now that the troika has left these shores, he is embarking on the sale of State assets to produce funds for the Exchequer in 2014, 2015 and 2016. It was never part of the three year programme while the troika was here. No funds were received from the sale of State assets during these three years, but the first sale will happen after the troika departs. The Government is in now complete control of State assets, but it will be selling them.
I obviously do not have the same enthusiasm for the sale of State assets as the Deputy. Accordingly, we took a very measured approach to it and he is dead right. The fact that we have not had an extensive sale of State assets is not something about which I am crying. This will be done in a structured way and for the best benefit of the taxpayer. There will be no fire sale or panic. The resources we get from such sales will be utilised in the best interests of the Exchequer and the people to create jobs, boost construction and complete the targets we have set. We have much more freedom to do this now that we have exited the troika regime. We were able to do this because of all the renegotiations we undertook on the dreadful programme negotiated by the collapsing Government of 2010. We have renegotiated the promissory notes, the terms of the loan and the interest rates payable. That has given us flexibility to ensure moneys we raise from the sale of State assets are deployed in the best interests of workers and the people.
9. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps he is taking to streamline regulatory policing across the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49419/13]
Many of the functions of regulators have been amalgamated, but there are still 58 sectoral regulatory authorities. While we need effective regulation, as well as accountable and competent regulators, do we still need all of them to have separate offices and administrative structures?
The Government’s public service reform agenda has delivered and will continue to deliver real improvements in the way public services are provided. A key part of this effort has been the reduction in the number of State bodies under the agency rationalisation programme, the introduction of shared services and a continued focus on streamlining organisational structures and modernising processes. As a result, the public service is much leaner and more efficient than before, with some 30,000 fewer public servants compared to five years ago maintaining service levels across the system, while dealing with more citizens. This has been made possible by real improvements in the way public services are delivered.
The same reform agenda applies to the regulatory sector, too. Effective regulation is a critical part of the State infrastructure, central to ensuring a competitive economy and protecting the consumer. The individual regulatory bodies also have an obligation to operate in an effective and cost-effective manner. To that end, in July the Government published a new policy statement on sectoral economic regulation entitled, Regulating for a Better Future, which was informed by a review carried out by Forfás and public consultation. Progress against this policy statement will be overseen by the Cabinet subcommittee on economic infrastructure.
The Government’s policy statement requires those Ministers with regulators under their aegis to introduce legislative changes to provide for policy and mandate reviews on a statutory basis at least every seven years. It also requires that performance and accountability frameworks for regulators and regulated sectors be put in place.
On the operational side, the statement addresses the issues of efficiencies, requiring parent Departments to develop a shared services approach between economic regulators in their sectors. An overriding principle is that, where appropriate, existing regulatory roles will be extended to take on new regulatory functions.
Under the public service reform plan there have been several critical reviews of amalgamations relating to regulatory bodies. These reviews examined the merits of amalgamating bodies such as the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and the Commission for Communications Regulation; the Property Services Regulation Authority and the Private Residential Tenancies Board; the Pensions Board and the Financial Regulator; and the Aviation Regulator and the Irish Aviation Authority. These reviews suggested that in some instances amalgamation should not be pursued, for a variety of reasons, including potential conflicts of interest and regulatory concerns.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
However, where it was deemed to deliver real savings and benefits, progress has been made, most notably through the ongoing merger of the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency and the bringing together of the back-office and administrative functions of the Commission for Communications Regulation and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. Where similar opportunities arise, particularly in the areas of shared services and administrative efficiency generally, I expect the relevant Ministers to pursue them in line with the Government’s policy statement on regulation and as part of our ongoing commitment to public service reform.
The Forfás report confirmed that further rationalisation of existing regulators would have a limited impact on reducing costs and increasing efficiencies. Instead, the report noted the potential for shared services in relation to front and back office functions.
The new framework on regulation also requires sectoral Departments to facilitate the development of memoranda of understanding between regulatory bodies in order to share functions. Reductions in administrative cost should be targeted, where feasible.
I thank the Minister for his response and commend the movements that have taken place in this area. An argument is made that particular regulatory functions cannot be amalgamated owing to potential conflicts of interest and so forth. However, a regulator can move from one regulatory authority to head up another. Various regulators have different offices and administrative structures. Why can we not designate one building in Dublin to centralise the backroom functions of all these authorities? Why do all 58 have to have their own receptionist? Why does each regulator have to have a private secretary? We can retain the independence of the regulator - I accept the Minister is right that there could be conflicts of interest - but there is no reason the administration of the authorities cannot be streamlined.
The Deputy makes much sense. In the review published we set about having common or shared backroom services between the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children and other ombudsmen. Although most of them are women, the new Ombudsman is a man. It is important we have support services that are rationalised but do not interfere with the regulators’ autonomy and have clear lines of demarcation. We are working on the shared services agenda and requiring every line Department to ensure all regulators under their aegis create synergies. In the case of a new authority to be established, we require the first port of call to be to an existing regulatory body to see if it can be latched on to it.
Will the Minister agree that having an effective regulator should be about putting itself out of business by improving compliance, reducing red tape and simplifying sectoral policing? However, many of us believe the opposite in that they are creating new regulations to justify their existence, administrative back-up and the fees they charge. Why are some of these agencies leasing different offices around the country and this city when there are vacant public spaces available in the Irish Life Centre, for example? Why can we not centralise them in the same office in order that access to them is through the one door?
One of the first actions the Government took was an examination of the public property portfolio, on which the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, has done sterling work. It is the first time we actually have a database of what public offices the State owns.
We discovered that there are many things from which we cannot get out because we are stuck with long-term leases and other contractual arrangements. That is really important work and it is being carried out by the Minister of State to ensure that we sweat out proper value for the buildings we own, many of which are not fully utilised, and that we are not leasing buildings we do not need when we can occupy buildings we already have. Everything the Deputy said is a rock of sense and will be acted upon by the Government.
10. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which each Government Department remains capable of meeting its budgetary targets with particular reference to savings or cost-cutting measures in respect of each individual Government Department and bodies under their aegis; if any particular trends are noted on past years’ performances; the corrective measures, if any, necessary or available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49524/13]
I am not asking for a pecking order or a rating, but some Departments have responded extremely well to meeting their budgetary targets, and at the same time delivering a high quality and high standard of service to the public. The question relates to the extent to which each Department has contributed to the delivery of those services.
The delivery of the required expenditure consolidation to achieve our fiscal targets in 2013 is a priority for Ministers and their Departments. My Department is working with all Departments and offices to monitor all current and capital spending on a monthly basis.
At the end of October, net voted expenditure was €844 million within profile. That means it was less than we expected to spend by the end of last month. This highlights that, notwithstanding pressures in some areas, the aggregate expenditure is being managed well within the targets for the year. The figures at the end of October indicate that there are current expenditure pressures in the justice and health groups of Votes. A Supplementary Estimate of just over €51 million will be required for the justice area, largely in respect of Garda pay. There is also €5 million for the Magdalen laundries issue, but savings will be made in the justice Vote. The position in the health sector is under review and my Department is working with the Department of Health to ascertain the scale of any Supplementary Estimate required. Based on the position at the end of October, it is anticipated that any overruns in the health and justice Votes can be met from savings elsewhere across the Government and will not have a negative impact on the Government’s aggregate end of year expenditure position. Savings across all profiles will be utilised so we will be within the voted spend.
The expenditure report published on 15 October outlined the expenditure measures required to be implemented in 2014 to meet the fiscal targets for 2014. My Department is currently working with Departments and offices with a view to publishing the detailed Revised Estimates volume for 2014 in early December. The ongoing review and monitoring by my Department, and the commitment of Ministers and their Departments to manage within their allocations, has ensured that we continue to be in a position to meet our fiscal targets.
I thank the Minister for his reply. Is he satisfied that it will be possible to meet the same savings and expenditure targets next year, while continuing to deliver the required standard of service to the public through each Department and all the bodies under their aegis?
I wish to acknowledge the work of the public service, which has delivered, with a shrinking sum of money and 10% less personnel than its peak, a bigger service to more people. I am very satisfied that the level of capacity to do more with less will continue. There are still difficult times ahead. We are not out of the woods, but at least we are exiting the troika programme. We are much more in control of our own destiny. We have to live within our fiscal targets, but I am confident that will continue to be the case. The new legislative frameworks, such as the allowance of carryover, will allow for a more rational planning on a multi-annual basis for offices and Departments in the future.
I thank the Minister for his reply. I extend the congratulations of everyone in the House to those involved in achieving the targets that have been achieved to date by unions, management and the various Government officials in their respective Departments.
I will convey those congratulations to the offices concerned. We need to continue with modernisation, increasing the platform for service delivery. We are coming to the end of the first two years of public sector reform. I will be publishing the second overview of public sector reform early next year and the next round of commitments for the following two years of reform. The first round was naturally focused on savings, because we wanted to meet fiscal targets. However, improving service to the public will be the next priority, and I look forward to bringing those proposals to the Joint Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform, if they invite me, early in the new year.
It is now after 10.45 a.m., so that concludes Question Time.
On a point of order, we were late starting today because a quorum was not established. We did not start until 9.38 a.m. There are eight minutes left. It is very clear under Standing Orders that there should one hour and 15 minutes available for questions. As an Opposition spokesman, I am not having a situation whereby Government Deputies choose not to come at the start of business. There are eight minutes left and there is time for two more questions.
Actually there are four minutes left, so I will take one more question.
11. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to any Supplementary Estimates that will be required for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49579/13]
The next question is about Supplementary Estimates. I would like the Minister to give us an indication of any such Estimates that may be coming down the tracks in the next few days.
The achievement of our expenditure targets is a key element of the required fiscal consolidation in 2013. To this end my Department is rigorously monitoring all current and capital expenditure, with Departments and offices reporting to us on expenditure issues from the Exchequer on a monthly basis.
The key points to note in relation to 2013 expenditure are that all Ministers and their Departments are closely involved in managing their expenditure; overall spending for the year to date is 2.3% under profile; and in aggregate, voted expenditure for 2013 will be on target. This means that we will achieve our 2013 fiscal targets.
At the end of October 2013, net total voted expenditure was €844 million within profile, as I have already indicated. Expenditure is being managed well within profile, although the figures indicate that there are some pressures in the justice group and health group of Votes. A Supplementary Estimate will be required in the justice group, primarily to deal with pressures relating to Garda pay, and also to allow for certain other additional expenditure including the first of the payments to the women who were admitted to and worked in the Magdalen laundries. The position on the health Estimate remains under review and the Department of Health is working to contain the level of the Supplementary Estimate needed.
A Supplementary Estimate will be required in respect of transport projects funded from the stimulus package I announced earlier this year. A small number of Supplementary Estimates will also be required to allow for some movement of financial allocations but which will be Exchequer neutral. While it remains a matter for each Minister and their Departments to ensure adherence to the Vote, my Department is in regular communication with line Departments about monitoring expenditure to ensure that any risks arising from overruns are addressed.
A Leas-Cheann Chomhairle, I appreciate the extra few minutes. We have confirmation today that there will be Supplementary Estimates in justice and health, although I do not know the amount involved. We are going to have a Supplementary Estimate in transport, and there is probably a good reason for that. We accept that extra money went to different projects during the year, and that was money well spent. There will probably be other Supplementary Estimates. Perhaps the Minister might be able to tell us how many such Estimates there will be in total.
In terms of requiring money, I have already indicated that the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Health will require Supplementary Estimates. There will be additional moneys in the stimulus package for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, as well as some technical adjustments whereby money is moved within Departments.
The issue of Supplementary Estimates is the norm. It is good practice, if priorities are reset during the year, for the line Minister to have the capacity to propose using the same amount of money approved by the House in a different way.
