Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 September 2021
49. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the €51.8 million from the National Training Fund is treated as normal Government expenditure for the purposes of budget 2022; if it will impact the deficit and General Government Balance; the way this expenditure will interact with the budgetary process; and if the same applies to the Social Insurance Fund. [45455/21]
View answerThe National Training Fund and the Social Insurance Fund form part of the General Government sector. As a result, the National Training Fund and Social Insurance Fund expenditures impact the general government expenditure. Similarly, the National Training Fund and Social Insurance Fund receipts are classified as general government revenue. Both revenue and expenditure of the National Training Fund and Social Insurance Fund impact the overall general government balance.
As set out in the Ministers and Secretaries Amendment Act 2013, expenditure of the Social Insurance Fund and National Training Fund form part of the Government Expenditure Ceiling. Consequently, in line with the fiscal strategy set out in the Summer Economic Statement, expenditure of these Funds must be accommodated within the voted spending ceiling for 2022 of €88.2 billion.
In relation to 2022, officials in my Department are currently engaging with officials in the Departments of Social Protection and Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on the projected expenditure levels and receipts to the Social Insurance Fund and the National Training Fund next year. Details in relation to these projections will be included in the 2022 Expenditure Report to be published on Budget day.
