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Departmental Budgets

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 October 2018

Thursday, 25 October 2018

Questions (114)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

114. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he expects all Departments to observe the budgetary situation as set out in the Budget Statement 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44580/18]

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Written answers

Expenditure Report 2019 set out total gross voted expenditure of €66.6 billion for 2019. Of this, €59.3 billion is gross voted current expenditure, while €7.3 billion is gross voted capital expenditure. The Departmental allocations outlined in Expenditure Report 2019 will be set out in further detail in the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) to be published in December.

A key responsibility of each Minister and Department is the effective and efficient delivery of public services within budgetary allocations. In relation to spending, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is in regular contact with all other Departments and Offices to ensure that expenditure is being managed within the overall fiscal parameters. The drawdown of funds from the Exchequer is reported on each month against expenditure profiles in the Fiscal Monitor published by the Department of Finance.

Sound public finances are necessary to underpin sustainable economic growth and to support Departments and Ministers in delivering public services. This requires effective and efficient management of overall expenditure. To support this goal, my Department engaged throughout 2018 with a range of Departments on year two of the Spending Review process, with a view to reinforcing a systematic analysis of existing spending programmes, focusing on an assessment of efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability. The Spending Review papers, published both this year and last year, provide an evidence base to inform choices regarding Departmental budgetary allocations and to identify areas of existing spend that require ongoing analysis to ensure value for money is being achieved. These processes, along with the ongoing development of initiatives such as performance budgeting and equality budgeting will continue to support Departments and Ministers during 2019 in ensuring that public expenditure is used in the most effective and sustainable way.

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