Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 December 2014
43. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the limits in actual figures and in percentage the expenditure benchmark will place on Government spending for the next five years if the Government's projected growth figures for these years are realised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46487/14]
View answerUnder the expenditure benchmark as introduced by the six-pack, the estimated general government expenditure is as set out as follows:
|
€bn |
2015* |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
Permitted gross general government expenditure |
71.0 |
71.4 |
73.0 |
74.7 |
75.9 |
|
Year on Year Change |
|
0.6% |
2.3% |
2.3% |
1.7% |
*Expenditure Benchmark not applicable in 2015
In generating these figures, we have had to estimate a number of the inputs into the calculation including reference rates (based on potential growth rates), convergence margins, GDP deflators and known discretionary revenue measures. These figures will change over the coming years as information, particularly the inputs supplied by the European Commission - reference rates, conversion margins and GDP deflators - become available. There are also a number of technical and timing issues relating to EU implementation of fiscal rules which need to be resolved.
In addition, these figures are before any additional discretionary revenue measures are adopted in future Budgets.
