Lisa Chambers
Question:201. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he sanctions continued structural under-provision in departmental Estimates. [17363/16]
View answerWednesday, 22 June 2016
Questions (201, 202)
Lisa Chambers
Question:202. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if continued structural under-provision in departmental Estimates is compatible with the Public Service Management Act 1997. [17364/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together.
In order to help to stabilise the public finances, gross voted expenditure was reduced from over €63 billion in 2009 to €54 billion in 2014. Against this background, the Government set out Departmental allocations for Oireachtas approval based on ensuring that fiscal targets were met while Departments continued to deliver key services at a time of increased demand.
The backdrop to additional spending provided by way of Supplementary Estimate in 2015 was that, with tax revenues well over forecast, the deficit target for 2015 could be achieved while additional expenditure could be accommodated. This represented a responsible approach towards funding of public services to meet social and economic objectives both in 2015 and in 2016.
As the Deputy is aware, managing the delivery of public services within Budgetary allocations is a key responsibility of each Minister and their Department, and important 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 the overall fiscal parameters. The drawdown of funds from the Exchequer is monitored against the published expenditure profiles. There is regular reporting to Government on these matters, and information is published monthly, as part of the Exchequer Statement.
The end-May Exchequer returns show that most Departments continue to manage expenditure within profile. However, certain pressures are evident, in particular in the Health sector. As outlined in the April Stability Programme Update, there is now scope to accommodate additional expenditure increases in 2016 while continuing to deliver against the key fiscal targets. In this context, the Government has decided to allow for targeted increases to support the delivery of key services in the Health Sector and by An Garda Síochána. These increases are reflected in the 2016 Estimates currently being considered by Dáil Éireann. The Estimates, therefore, fully reflect the Government's assessment at this time of the public expenditure resources to be approved by Dáil Éireann required to provide the public services funded from each Vote.