Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to be given an estimate. Everyone gives an estimate, which is subject to verification, after the end of the year. I believe Ms Murphy-Fagan has said she has already sent information to the Departments. She is reasonably confident about what has been produced. I am sure she had a health warning on her statement and that it was not absolute. Could she just outline what her office has done because it has produced some information?

That leads to my next question. Given that the office will be getting its Estimate of expenditure approved for 2018 any day now, I expect that, in calculating that figure, the NSSO should be able to estimate what it believes the figure for outstanding payments will be at the end of 2018. I am now moving on much further. If one is coming in to get the group of Votes for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform next month, this month or on another occasion, it is logical to be asked about this. I refer to where one is looking for the Estimate figure for the office for the coming year - the Estimate for its Vote. A level of overpayments will be in place for last year and one will have to know, in one's working papers, the estimated figure for 2018. That is relevant to the Vote the office requires. Therefore, I presume it will be possible for the office to give us some estimate. I stress that it will be an estimate. Ms Murphy-Fagan spoke about planning. In my opinion, one cannot calculate one's Estimate for this year properly if one has not estimated where one believes one will be at the end of December. Am I jumping the gun?