Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 October 2018
95. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the sources of funding to be utilised for supplementary estimates in the coming months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43897/18]
View answerThe Summer Economic Statement (SES) 2018, set out a General Government deficit of 0.2 per cent of GDP, or €780 million, for 2018. As outlined in Budget 2019, this General Government deficit target is now projected to be over-achieved, with the forecast General Government deficit for this year being 0.1 per cent of GDP or €315 million.
As outlined in Expenditure Report 2019, as a result of policy decisions, including in relation to the provision of a 100 per cent Christmas Bonus to social welfare recipients and additional capital funding for the Department of Housing, and expenditure pressures in particular in the Health sector, the gross voted expenditure outturn for the year is now estimated at €62.8 billion, an increase of €1 billion relative to the gross voted expenditure amount in the SES.
As outlined in the Expenditure Report 2019, at the end of September PRSI receipts were over €150 million ahead of profile, and it is currently projected that PRSI receipts will finish the year c. €250 million higher than projected in the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) 2018. In addition, other Departmental receipts, or appropriations-in-aid, are anticipated to finish the year c. €0.2 billion ahead of profile. It is because of this additional revenue, along with higher than anticipated Exchequer tax receipts, higher-than-projected non tax revenues, and lower non-voted current expenditure, that the increase in gross voted expenditure can be accommodated, while at the same time seeing an improvement in the General Government deficit.
