Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 3 July 2019

Committee on Budgetary Oversight

Summer Economic Statement: Minister for Finance

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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The month of May showed growth in expenditure of 8.9%. The figure in May of last year was 9.5%. There difference in respect of that month is not significant. We have seen a decrease in June but all indications suggest that if we are seeing a significant overrun at this point in time, 1% above what was budgeted for, this overrun will accelerate in the last quarter of the year. Regardless of what was allocated last year, the HSE and those managing the spend on health are telling us that they have not been able to stay within their means for the first five months of the year. The trends show that there is always a sharp increase in the last quarter. I do not understand the Minister's view. Is he suggesting that there will not be a sharp increase?