Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 27 September 2023

Committee on Budgetary Oversight

Pre-Budget Engagement (Resumed): Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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I appreciate that and I know the discussions are ongoing. The Committee on Budgetary Oversight has in its terms of reference scope to deal with this matter. We are 13 days away from the budget and there is an overspend of €1.1 billion. I am not asking the Minister to give me a number but to give me a range to within a quarter of a billion euro or even half a billion euro. Is it in the zero to €500 million range or the €500 million to €1 billion range? I am not asking the Minister to pinpoint but it is only fair that the Committee on Budgetary Oversight would have an indication regarding this policy measure. We could bandy numbers around. The Minister thinks there is €2 billion available but if the health overrun has to be provided for again next year, it leaves a big hole.