The Defence Vote Group is comprised of Vote 35 (Army Pensions) and Vote 36 (Defence). On an annual basis, pay and other savings arising within subheads across the Votes have, with the approval of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and in accordance with Government Accounting Procedures, been used to address spending pressures across the Vote Group. This approach has facilitated my Department in ensuring that available resources are maximised across the Vote Group.
In the 3 years from 2017 to 2019 the total amount remaining unspent, after savings were re-allocated across the Vote Group, was €3.7 million from a Gross Allocation of €2,875 million. This represents less than 0.13% of the allocation for that period. The end-year outturn for 2020 is not yet known but the position is being carefully monitored on an on-going basis by my Department.