Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:55 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance the steps, if any, he has taken or proposes to take to facilitate multi-annual budgeting. [5583/98]
Written Answers - Multi-Annual Budgeting.
Delivering Better Government, the 1996 report of the group of secretaries co-ordinating the introduction of the strategic management initiative, recommended that a multi-annual budgeting system be introduced.
This Government has firmly endorsed the strategic management initiative. Significant progress has been made with the introduction of the new multi-annual system.
A multi-annual projection of the major revenue and expenditure aggregates on the assumption of unchanged policies was published with the 1997 budget. The expenditure data were in aggregate form, without a breakdown by Vote groups.
I developed the approach further by publishing, as part of the presentation of the medium-term implications of the 1998 budget, projections showing expenditure by individual ministerial Vote groups for the period 1998-2000. Again, the projections are on the basis of a "no policy change" assessment of the final 1998 expenditure allocations decided by the Government.
In my 1998 budget speech, I said that I will be considering, in preparing for the 1999 budget, the next stage of the move to multi-annual budgeting, as envisaged in Delivering Better Government.
My Department has consulted all Departments and Offices on the issues faced in moving on to the next stage in the 1999 budget, and I intend shortly to examine carefully the results of this consultation process. I may put the issue to the Government for decision.