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Departmental Budgets

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 July 2014

Wednesday, 9 July 2014

Questions (13)

Seán Fleming

Question:

13. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of Supplementary Estimates he expects to be introduced in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29676/14]

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Written answers

Managing the delivery of public services within agreed budgetary allocations is a key responsibility of each Minister and Department, and several measures are in place to help ensure that these budgetary targets continue to be met.  My Department is in regular communication with all Departments and Offices to ensure that expenditure is being managed within agreed allocations and we monitor their drawdown of funds from the Exchequer against published expenditure profiles. Where necessary, my Department also meets line Departments to review financial and budgetary management.  I report to Government regularly on spending trends, and we publish information each month as part of the Exchequer Statement.  

This effective management of spending by Departments is continuing in 2014 with the latest data on expenditure to end-June 2014 showing that, in overall terms, spending is on track with 49% of the gross voted allocation (49.6% of the net allocation) spent at the half-way point through the year.  Overall spending was in accordance with profiles - gross voted spending was just 0.4% under profile (€95m) and net spending was 0.6% (€119m) under profile.  

One supplementary estimate for the amount of €2 million has been voted by the Dáil to date this year; this was required to set up a new service under the Department of an Taoiseach for a Commission of Investigation.  I expect that some further supplementary estimates will be required in connection with the additional Exchequer investment I announced in May as a further round of Stimulus investment from the proceeds of the disposal of State assets. These supplementary estimates will be progressed later in the year when we have more detailed information about the actual level of funding that the projects involved have needed to draw down in the year. The Government decided in February of this year to make additional funding available for infrastructure repair and restoration works associated with winter storms. The necessity for supplementary estimates in relation to this work will be considered later in the year taking into account the scale of works completed.  

My Department will continue to monitor all current and capital Departmental expenditure on a monthly basis and will work with Departments to ensure they adhere to the expenditure ceilings set for them.  At this point, the performance for the year to date is encouraging and it is too early in the year to give any reliable indication on the potential requirements for any further supplementary estimates by year-end.

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