Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 July 2022
200. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the breakdown of the €3 billion in the Summer Economic Statement related to already taken Budgetary decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38615/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra201. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the specific amount provided for in the in the Summer Economic Statement under budgetary decisions in respect of demographics; the details of the way that figure was arrived at; the breakdown of the projected need across all Departments; the amount that is required by the Department of Social Protection, Department of Health, Department of Education and Department of Housing to meet demographic needs; the underlying evidence for those figures in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38616/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra202. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the breakdown of the amount provided in the Summer Economic Statement under budgetary decisions for the full-year cost of measures announced in Budget 2022; the breakdown of those costs and each individual measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38617/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra203. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the breakdown of the amount provided for in the Summer Economic Statement under budgetary decisions for the cost of the existing public service pay agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38618/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 200 to 203, inclusive, together.
The 2022 Summer Economic Statement sets out the budgetary strategy for the period to 2025. As part of the total budget package set out for each year to 2025, amounts of between €3 to 3.4 billion are indicated as for ‘budgetary decisions’ in Table 1 of the document. For 2023, this figure under ‘budgetary decisions’ is €3.0 billion. This category comprises provision for Existing Levels of Service (ELS) costs and the planned core capital expenditure increases under the National Development Plan (NDP).
The NDP published in October 2021 provides a detailed and positive vision for Ireland over the next 10 years, and sees total public investment of €165 billion over the period 2021-2030. Core capital increases in upcoming Budgets will be in line with the parameters set out in the NDP, with an additional €0.8 billion in 2023.
Under the approach set out in last year’s Summer Economic Statement, 3% of the core current expenditure base is being set aside each year to meet ELS costs. These include costs arising from demographic pressures in areas such as Social Protection, Health and Education; carryover costs from measures already introduced in prior year Budgets; and public service pay commitments under existing pay deals. €2.2 billion is indicated under Budget 2023 to meet these costs.
The division of the available resources under this 3% provision between the areas covered by ELS will be examined and allocated as part of the Estimates process each year, with the breakdown published in the Expenditure Report.
