Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2021
250. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he remains satisfied that budgetary targets set earlier in 2021 will continue to be met notwithstanding any changes in circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23718/21]
View answer251. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has identified any particular issues which might impact on his Department’s ability to implement principles of reform to facilitate achievement of spending targets; if particular obstacles have arisen in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23719/21]
View answer252. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he has identified issues likely to impede progress toward objectives set for and by his Department in respect of public expenditure and reform; if such obstacles have been identified and isolated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23720/21]
View answer254. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which provisions or policies most likely to achieve benefit to the Exchequer and the taxpayer in 2021 are continuing on target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23722/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 250, 251, 252 and 254 together.
The Revised Estimates for Public Services (REV) for 2021 outlined an overall Government Expenditure Ceiling of €87.8 billion. This provided for both an increase in the core expenditure allocations to Departments and for almost €12 billion in funding to respond to Covid-19 and Brexit.
During 2021, Covid-19 has continued to pose a challenge for society and continued measures have been necessary to support our people, businesses and the delivery of public services. Under this overall expenditure ceiling, €5.4 billion was set aside in reserve to be used as required during the year for temporary, targeted measures to mitigate the impacts of Covid-19. 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 this regard, and including expenditure of the Social Insurance Fund, the Further Revised Estimate for the Department of Social Protection presented to Dáil Éireann last week reflects additional gross expenditure of c. €4 billion. Decisions regarding the continuance of support schemes beyond the end of June will be taken in the coming weeks. However Government has committed that there will be no cliff edge to the supports that have been put in place.
Given the exceptional level of funding being provided this year, careful monitoring of spending against profile and of progress on programmes and projects is required. My Department is in regular contact with all other Departments and Offices to ensure that expenditure is being managed within the overall fiscal parameters. It is a key responsibility of every Department and Minister to manage expenditure within their respective allocations and during 2021 the main spending Departments will be reporting to Government quarterly on spending within their areas, setting out the detail and context of key areas where spending is either above or below profile and setting out the outlook for the year taking into account the impact of Covid-19 on programmes and projects.
This monitoring of expenditure during 2021 stands alongside a range of reforms implemented in recent years in order to enhance Ireland’s budgetary framework and to ensure efficient and effective management of public expenditure. This includes initiatives such as performance budgeting and equality budgeting as well as publications such as the Summer Economic Statement and Mid-Year Expenditure Report. A new three year cycle of spending reviews began last year and will provide analysis of existing spending programmes, focusing on an assessment of efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability.
Looking forward, the Programme for Government commits to continuing reform and improvement of the Budgetary process, building on the budgetary reforms already in place and the significant work on public service reform already completed.
