Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 November 2013

Tuesday, 12 November 2013

Questions (392)

Robert Troy

Question:

392. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason that current net Voted expenditure in her Department was €29 million, 8% behind profile at the end of October 2013; if she expects this underspend to continue to the end of 2013; if any unspent allocation will be available for any other programmes in 2013; if she anticipates that any underspend in 2013 will be greater than the level of cuts her Department made in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47906/13]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The profiling data to which the Deputy refers relates to information which was published by the Department of Finance in the context of the Exchequer Returns for end October 2013. The current expenditure shortfall at this time is primarily attributable to timing factors relating to fund disbursements under the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and the School Age Childcare Initiative.

While expenditure levels under these programmes, especially the ECCE programme, will increase between now and the end of the year it is expected that there will be a underspend under the School Age Childcare Initiative due to limited take-up of the scheme in 2013. The extent of this underspend, together with any other identified savings or pressures that may arise elsewhere in the Vote, is currently under examination within my Department and will be considered in due course in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.