Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I have been examining proposals for reform of the Estimates and budgetary process in conjunction with my Government colleagues on foot of my budget 2005 announcement that I intended to consider options for reform in this regard. These deliberations are still ongoing and I will also take into account the recent Committee of Public Accounts report. As I indicated in my reply to a previous parliamentary question in the matter, changes to current practices would have to be capable of being implemented in the short and medium term, would need to meet best practice, improve both the quality of debate and the data available to the House on the budget, meet our obligations to the EU and be capable of being delivered within the existing budget timetable. As I stated in my 2005 budget announcement, changes must also retain the right and duty of the Government to direct and manage the budgetary process.

As regards the timing of the budget, it is critical that the Government in formulating the budget should have the latest information available on fiscal trends before adopting the strategy for the following year. Thus, information on revenues to the end of November is to hand when the final budget strategy is adopted. Similar issues arise in determining expenditure, for instance, on the question of capital spend or possible carryover. I hope to announce the Government's proposals for reform shortly.

I am fully committed to the principle that every euro of taxpayers' money is well spent. I refer the Deputy to my speech of 20 October last to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce where I outlined a number of measures to improve value for money. This initiative builds on other measures introduced in recent years to improve the management of capital programmes and projects including five-year multi-annual budgets and revised guidelines for the appraisal and management of capital expenditure. The overall impact of these various developments has created a better framework for achieving value for money.

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