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Fiscal Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 May 2018

Thursday, 17 May 2018

Ceisteanna (80, 81, 82)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

80. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he is satisfied of being able to continue to meet the targets set in the context of spending and reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21923/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

81. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which each Department continues to maintain good practice in terms of expenditure in keeping with both the effects of the economic recession and the growing demands of the recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21925/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

82. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he remains satisfied that targets in respect of savings and public expenditure reform will continue to be met in the context of economic recovery; if he has identified particular areas of conflict in this regard; if he remains satisfied that economic recovery and retention of public expenditure objectives are not mutually exclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21926/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 to 82, inclusive, together.

Managing the delivery of public services within allocations and meeting our budgetary targets forms a key part of the responsibilities of every Minister and Department. My own Department is in regular contact with all other Departments and Offices to ensure that expenditure is being managed within the overall fiscal parameters. The drawdown of funds from the Exchequer is reported on each month against expenditure profiles, in the Fiscal Monitor published by the Department of Finance.

As set out in the most recent Fiscal Monitor, total gross voted expenditure at end-April 2018 was €19,216 million. This is €74 million, or 0.4% below profile. Gross voted current expenditure of €18,084 million, is €192 million, or 1.1% ahead of profile. Timing issues relating to Child Benefit and Garda Pension payments, profiled for payment at the start of May but brought forward to April, account for the significant portion of this variance. As outlined in the April Fiscal Monitor, this arose as the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) system was closed on the first of May due to the European Public Holiday. These timing issues will reverse in May. Health expenditure of €5,152 million was 1.4% above profile.

Gross voted capital expenditure of €1,132 million, is €266 million, or 19% below profile and up €190 million, or 20.1% on April 2017. Capital expenditure in the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is running €158 million or 43% behind profile, largely due to a delay in drawing down payments to Irish Water. It is anticipated that these drawdowns will be completed in the coming months bringing expenditure back in line with profile.

As the Deputy will be aware, sound public finances are necessary to underpin sustainable economic growth in the context of our economic recovery. This requires effective and efficient management of overall expenditure. To support this goal, my Department has been engaging with a range of Departments on year two of the Spending Review process, with a view to reinforcing a systematic analysis of existing spending programmes, focusing on an assessment of efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability.

In addition to this, the Public Service Performance Report was published last month and this aims to strengthen focus on what is being delivered with public funds. Performance targets are published in the Revised Estimates Volume each year. This report, provides timely quantitative performance data to help to enhance the focus on performance and delivery by presenting relevant performance indicators in a dedicated, focused document.

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