Departmental Estimates.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 November 2004

Tuesday, 23 November 2004

Questions (189, 190)

Joan Burton

Question:

237 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Finance the net voted expenditure for each Department in the first ten months of 2004, with a breakdown of current and capital spending; his latest forecast for final expenditure outcomes at year end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30177/04]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

241 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if he has examined the circumstances whereby a number of Government Departments have underspent in terms of their budgets in the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30280/04]

Written answers

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 and 241 together.

Net voted expenditure for each ministerial Vote group to end-October 2004, with a breakdown of current and capital spending, is set out below. The forecast outturn information is based on the latest estimates received from Departments and offices in connection with the recently published 2005 Abridged Estimates Volume.

Vote Group — Net	Spending to end-October 2004	2004 Forecast Outturn
	Current	Capital	Total	Current	Capital	Total
Finance group	639	146	785	865	263	1,128
Taoiseach’s group	103	0	103	142	1	144
Justice group	1,408	68	1,477	1,748	107	1,854
Environment	580	860	1,440	685	1,624	2,310
Education	4,840	238	5,078	5,876	509	6,385
Marine	116	62	178	154	104	258
Agriculture	553	61	614	724	96	819
Transport	299	994	1,293	411	1,571	1,982
Health	6,915	297	7,212	8,095	510	8,604
Enterprise, Trade & Employment	658	171	829	766	339	1,105
Arts, Sport & Tourism	237	70	307	302	131	433
Defence	632	14	646	826	24	850
Foreign Affairs	423	7	430	550	13	563
Social & Family Affairs	4,892	0	4,892	5,972	8	5,980
Community group	131	63	194	181	98	279
Total	22,426	3,052	25,478	27,295	5,398	32,693

The end-October Exchequer returns showed that net voted spending by Departments and offices is some €1.35 billion below profile, of which €466 million is in respect of current spending and €885 million is for capital spending. The 2005 Abridged Estimates Volume included forecast outturn information as summarised above. Overall, there is a forecast saving of €150 million on gross spending of which €70 million is a saving on day-to-day spending. There is an €80 million saving on capital net of €248 million capital carryover from 2004 to 2005 under the multi-annual capital envelopes announced in the 2004 budget. There are higher receipts of €100 million across some Departments which will result in a net total forecast saving of €250 million between current and capital, net of the capital carryover. Notwithstanding the significant underspend to date, overall savings, net of capital carryover, are forecast at 0.75% of the 2004 Revised Estimates Volume provision.