Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2016
610. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of measures included in the programme for Government, with the cost for each commitment on an individual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10655/16]
View answerThe Programme for a Partnership Government sets out the ambition to build a strong economy and to deliver a fair society so that communities thrive throughout both urban and rural Ireland. For each of the policy challenges contained in the Government's Programme a clear unambiguous high-level ambition is also identified, for example:
- meet the target of building 25,000 new homes needed every year by 2020;
- create 200,000 jobs by 2020, including 135,000 outside Dublin;
- reducing waiting times in the health sector; and
- spend at least €6.75 billion more on public services by 2021 compared to 2016.
As stated in the Programme for every policy challenge, the new Government will ensure that a balance is struck between addressing urgent priorities - utilising the action plan framework set out in the Programme document - and engaging in long-term planning and thinking, so that lasting solutions with broad based support are implemented.
In order to adopt this approach in practice, a key action for the Government's first hundred days is securing agreement with the Oireachtas on putting in place a reformed budget process. This is intended to secure a significantly more participatory approach underpinned by a substantially enhanced Dáil input into and feedback on the development of budgetary priorities.
It is envisaged that an important element of this new model will be to facilitate appropriate consultation and engagement on the costings of specific measures intended to respond to particular Programme for Government priorities, as well as examining how these measures align with overall fiscal parameters.
This new approach will have a central role to play in guiding and informing deliberation by the Oireachtas on budgetary options and in shaping the Government's budgetary proposals in due course.
