Tom Hayes
Ceist:100 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Finance if he has satisfied himself that Departments have acted effectively to keep their spending within estimates. [21314/02]
Written Answers. - Departmental Expenditure.
There are a number of control and monitoring procedures in place to assist me in the management of public expenditure. These include annual profiles of spending, monthly issues figures and monthly expenditure reports from Departments. In addition, this year I initiated a system of monthly expenditure management reports to Government. I have received full co-operation from Ministers and their Departments throughout the year in implementing these procedures.
From the beginning of the year the Government has adopted the approach that any unavoidable pressures on spending would have to be funded by equivalent offsetting measures elsewhere. Ministers have agreed a variety of offsetting measures to ensure that spending would not exceed the 14.4% increase provided for in the 2002 Revised Estimates Volume. I am still aiming to ensure that spending overall comes in on or close to target this year.