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

The level of ELS that is available to different Departments forms a very big part of our discussions with them because it then sets the scene for the negotiation regarding plans for next year. Has the inflationary environment that we are still in had an impact on the real value of ELS? I would say the answer to that question is that, yes, it has. That, in turn, is one of the reasons the Minister, Deputy McGrath, and I agreed to increase the overall amount that is available for spending to 6.1% growth as opposed to nearer 5%, which I had hoped we would be at if inflation had come down. Yes, it does have an effect. We are increasing year-on-year the funding that is set aside for ELS. I am reasonably confident that when we complete our budgetary work and publish our budgetary documentation, we will again see increases in ELS in a number of Government Departments.