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Budget 2020

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 October 2019

Tuesday, 1 October 2019

Ceisteanna (102)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

102. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the demographic analysis will be ready for budget day; if it will involve an ex-post review of demographic costs in previous years; if the scope of the analysis will be expanded particularly in relation to health expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39610/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Ministerial Gross Voted Current Expenditure Ceilings for the Departments of Health, Social Protection and Education include an estimation of demographic costs each year. These are primary areas of current expenditure that are particularly impacted by demographic pressures. For the last number of years, these demographic projections have been informed by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) paper ‘Budgetary Impacts of Changing Demographics 2017 – 2027.’ The paper can be found on the IGEES website (https://igees.gov.ie/budgetary-impact-of-changing-demographics-2017-to-2027/).

This paper covers a number of areas of expenditure, including pensions, child benefit, education provision and health schemes such as the Nursing Home Support Scheme and estimates pure demographic costs to be factored into Expenditure Ceilings. As part of the 2019 Spending Review process, an update of this paper is due to be published in October in the overall context of Budget 2020. This forthcoming paper will again look at the key areas of Health, Social Protection and Education and will examine demographic pressures in these areas over a ten year period.

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