Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 July 2020
27. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total value of additional expenditure across each Department with reference to the Revised Estimates published on 18 December 2019; the additional expenditure anticipated with reference to those estimates for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16862/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn allocation of €70.4 billion in gross voted expenditure was set out in the 2020 Revised Estimate of Public Service published last December. Taking into account the additional expenditure agreed by the Dáil, the revised Government Expenditure Ceiling now stands at €79.7 billion. This includes an additional €6.8 billion for the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, nearly €2 billion for the Department of Health and €483 million for the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
Not included in these allocations are a number of measures announced by the Government in response to the Covid-19 crisis. These include in particular the decisions in relation to extending the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme to August and the provision of additional funding for the Department of Transport in relation to the Public Service Obligation. Accounting for these and decisions in a number of other policy areas in response to Covid-19, the overall increase relative to the allocations set out in REV 2020 is almost €12 billion.
In addition to this, in order to support the economy as businesses and society reopen, further supports are to be announced as part of the July Stimulus plan. The plan includes a number of measures to provide additional targeted supports to stimulate activity across the economy, assist firms and support employment.
Looking forward, in addition to the costs outlined above, funding is also to be set aside to support key sectors including Health, Schools, Third Level and Justice taking account of challenges arising from Covid-19. This funding will be allocated later in the year.
Upon the formation of this Government a number of reconfigurations of Government Departments were announced. Work is underway within my Department to finalise these transfers of functions. Restated Estimates will be presented to the Dail in due course upon the completion of this work that will set out revised allocations reflecting the new Departmental structures and decisions in relation to additional funding to respond to Covid-19, including that set out in the July stimulus.
