Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 October 2016
184. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a use it or lose it by year end rule is or has been in operation within his Department when devolving funding to agencies under his remit on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29201/16]
View answerFunding for bodies from the Vote of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is voted by the Dáil through the annual estimates process.
In accordance with the provisions of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 13/2014 - Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds, any amounts unexpended at year end are to be surrendered to the Exchequer. However, where pre-funding is required, for example, in the case of grant funding to a public sector body towards its running costs, prior approval must be sought from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. With the approval and sanction of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, these balances, or a portion thereof, may be retained by the grantee if deemed necessary to meet outstanding financial requirements. It is a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to determine, based on the particular circumstances of the body concerned, whether or not pre-funding or the retention of end year balances should be approved.
