Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 11 September 2019

Committee on Budgetary Oversight

Scrutiny of Tax Expenditures (Resumed)

Mr. Seamus Coffey:

We do not have a precise figure for 2019. As mentioned by my colleague, Mr. Tutty, the indication from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform earlier this year is that approximately €150 million will be required. The concerns of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council are primarily those as raised by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in regard to a potential Supplementary Estimate of €150 million. The average in recent years has been around €500 million, with most of that arising in the final quarter of the year. As of now, health spend is on track. As mentioned by Mr. Tutty, there appears to be an unusual profile pattern for the end of the year, with a dramatic slowdown in the growth of health spending forecast. That might materialise, but it does appear unusual and it suggests there is the possibility of an overrun again for 2019. As I said, we do not have a precise figure but the figure provided by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the average over recent years indicate it could be significant.

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