The mid-year expenditure report sets out the pre-Budget expenditure ceiling for my Department of €1,285 million for current expenditure and €27 million for capital expenditure. This represents the spending baseline for examination of my Department's budgetary priorities for 2018. This is line in with the allocation for my Department in 2017.
At present officials in my Department are engaged on the estimates and budgetary process for 2018. I am sure that the Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate to comment at this time on any future decisions that may be taken by Government in the context of Budget 2018 on the expenditure allocations for programmes and services within my Department.