Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Of course if I am announcing additional expenditure, it will be on areas that are needed. I will not arrive into the Oireachtas to announce additional expenditure on areas that are not of concern to the public or are not part of the programme for Government. If we find ourselves in the position where additional resources are available, it is likely that the Dáil will welcome the additional expenditure.

It is even more likely when it comes to September that the Deputy will call for that additional expenditure.

With regard to the fiscal space and the development of the so-called hidden fiscal space, the point made by the Taoiseach and me is that all the focus now is understandably on where we are with additional resources. Deputies are asking me about fiscal space, fiscal stance or whatever. I have already stated we will increase public expenditure next year by between €1.8 billion and €2 billion. That will take public expenditure next year up to approximately €60 billion. That is many multiples of the scale of any of the incremental changes we will announce next year. The Taoiseach was simply making the point that we should be having a look to ensure we are spending that money in the best possible way. With regard to how we will do it, as I stated in my introductory comments, I have committed to trying to review a third of Government expenditure every year. I said that at the end of that we will produce papers in as many areas as we can, so Deputies can see those. I aim to publish those papers this afternoon.