Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 January 2022
184. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which his Department is alert to possible increases in expenditure as Covid-19 recedes; the particular measures to offset negative developments in the context of costs to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2848/22]
View answer185. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which his Department has examined all Departments and agencies under their remit with a view to ensuring that every possible action is being taken to protect the public and national interest in terms of spending strategies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2849/22]
View answer186. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his objectives for 2022 with a view to ensuring strategic and targeted spending in order to ensure maximum benefit for the economy and general public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2850/22]
View answer187. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if spending in any particular Department or their subordinate agencies has given concern in the past twelve months; if corrective measures can be taken without negative impact on the future development of the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2851/22]
View answer191. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which he continues to engage with various Departments and their subsidiary bodies with a view to ensuring cost-effectiveness to increase efficiency and strategic spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2857/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 184, 185, 186, 187 and 191 together.
Since the onset of the pandemic, significant additional funding had been provided by Government to allow Departments respond to the impact of the pandemic on citizens, businesses and public services. This expenditure, to fund temporary measures to address the impact of the pandemic, has been dealt with separately from expenditure on the delivery of core programmes and infrastructure and the careful phased withdrawal of this spending is essential both to support society and the economy to recover from the impact of Covid-19 and to return our public finances to a sustainable position.
Some €30 billion in direct expenditure supports has been made available across 2020 and 2021 and Budget 2022 outlined provision for up to €7 billion in Covid-19 related spending, with €3.1 billion of this already allocated to continue support measures. A further €3.9 billion is held in reserve to allow Government flexibility to respond to continued impacts of the pandemic during 2022, targeting supports at where they can have the greatest impact.
Along with the funding provision for Covid-19, significant increases in core expenditure have also been provided for 2022, in line with the sustainable level of increased expenditure set out under the agreed medium term expenditure strategy to 2025. Core current expenditure in 2022 is projected to grow by €3.1 billion, about 4.6%, relative to the core expenditure position set out for 2021 in Expenditure Report 2022, while the Expenditure Report outlined growth of €1.1 billion or 11.7% in core capital expenditure allocations. Ensuring value for money from this expenditure is an ongoing priority of my Department.
The Programme for Government commits to continuing reform and improvement of the budgetary process, including an enhanced focus across Government on issues of performance and national well-being. This will build on a range of reforms introduced in recent years to enhance Ireland’s budgetary framework and ensure that expenditure is managed in an efficient, effective and strategic way. This ongoing work includes the ‘whole-of-year’ budgetary framework, the Spending Review process, Performance Budgeting and Equality Budgeting and the development of the Wellbeing Framework for Ireland.
Managing expenditure within their respective allocations is a key responsibility of every Department and Minister, particularly given the level of funding being provided, and careful monitoring of spending against profile and of progress on programmes and projects will continue to be required. Spending figures are compiled monthly and published in the Fiscal Monitor to report on spend against profile for all Ministerial Vote Groups. My Department engages on an ongoing basis with all Departments and will continue to monitor and develop our budgetary process with a view to ensuring that value for money is delivered across Government projects and programmes.
