Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
567. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he remains satisfied that public service reforms to date are sufficiently incorporated in the discharge of Government policies through various Departments with a view to ensuring maximum benefit and stability for the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10589/21]
View answer587. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which the targets identified by his Department at budget time remain in line with expectations notwithstanding the impact of Covid-19 and or other issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20837/21]
View answer588. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which targets in respect of public expenditure for the year 2021 remain in line with expectations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20838/21]
View answer589. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the issues most likely to impact on his Department’s projections in respect of public expenditure and reform for 2021; the extent to which particular issues have been identified as challenging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20839/21]
View answer595. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which various Departments remain in line with the targets and principles of public expenditure and reform set by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20845/21]
View answer596. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which his Department can continue to influence good practice in the context of public expenditure and reform; and the extent to which he expects these principles to have a beneficial impact on the economy in 2021. [20846/21]
View answer599. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he remains satisfied that adequate measures have been taken in respect of public expenditure and reform to withstand the ongoing impact of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20853/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 567, 587 to 589, inclusive, 595, 596 and 599 together.
A number of reforms have been implemented in recent years to enhance Ireland’s budgetary framework and ensure the efficient and effective management of public expenditure. These reforms aim to increase transparency around the budgetary process and to facilitate meaningful dialogue around key elements of the Budget and on what is being achieved with public funds.
The Programme for Government commits to continue to reform and improve the Budgetary process and proposes that each Minister will be required to produce service improvement and reform plans in conjunction with my Department, within an overall context of an enhanced focus across Government on issues of well-being. In implementing the Programme for Government commitment in relation to a well-being framework, my Department will look to build on the budgetary reforms already in place and the significant work on public service reform already completed.
Budget 2021 outlined an overall Government Expenditure Ceiling of €87.8 billion. Of this, an amount of €82.4 billion has been allocated at a departmental level in the Revised Estimates for Public Services (REV) for 2021, with €5.4 billion set aside in reserve to respond to the impacts of Brexit and Covid-19 as required.
This reserve will partially be utilised to fund the extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) to the end of June. In addition, taking into account that expenditure on the PUP to the end of March is already €1.2 billion ahead of the amount allocated in REV 2021, the additional expenditure on the PUP and EWSS to the end of June will place a significant demand on the €5.4 billion of Contingency Funds set aside as part of Budget 2021.
In light of the exceptional funding being made available this year, it is critical that every Department and Minister ensure that expenditure levels are managed within the agreed allocations. Noting that this requirement applies to the additional expenditure allocated as part of the response to Covid-19 as well as core expenditure. To facilitate this, there continues to be regular reporting to Government on the levels of spending and monthly updates on the drawdown of funds from the Exchequer against expenditure profiles are made publicly available in the Fiscal Monitor published by the Department of Finance. My Department is also in regular contact with other Departments and Offices regarding management of expenditure within the overall fiscal parameters.
Finally, looking forward, the Government has also committed that there will be no cliff edge to the supports that have been put in place, recognising that it is essential that the appropriate measures are maintained to ensure that the necessary supports are in place to support the economy, workers and society to recover.
