Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 May 2013
79. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will indicate, by Department, the extent to which savings as identified in the Troika have been met to date; whether any particular sectors have achieved their targets to a greater extent than others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25008/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo date, good progress has been made on delivering savings and implementing change across all Departments and all quantitative fiscal targets set as part of the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support have been met in full. This is a vital part of our approach to bring the public finances back onto a sustainable footing and thereby supporting economic recovery. The expenditure ceilings and savings target for individual Votes are agreed by Government within the context of the overall fiscal targets. It is a matter for each Minister and their Departments to ensure that the Vote-level allocations are adhered to while at the same time ensuring that they continue to provide essential services and respond appropriately to increasing demands.
Our new Medium Term Expenditure Framework aims to incentivise Departments through the implementation of a new “carryover” facility for Departments who successfully manage their allocations within budget in any year, so that they can use unspent funds in the following year. Those Departments that are proactive in driving reform, innovation and structural planning will naturally be best-placed to avail of this facility into the future. The consequence on Departments who exceed their current expenditure ceiling in any given year will be the assimilation of an offsetting adjustment in their envelope for the following year, and they will be required to devise appropriate policy measures to live within the reduced allocation. It will be a matter for Ministers and Heads of Department/Office to devise forward-looking plans and policies and to ensure adherence to the Ministerial Expenditure Ceilings.
