Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.

Expenditure by my Department from January 2006 to the end of August 2006 was €19.547 million compared with a total Estimates provision for the year of €37.675 million. This compares with total expenditure of €18.047 million for the period to end August 2005, an increase of 8.3%.

While fluctuations in spending occur from month to month and some expenditures do not fall due until the end of the year, I am satisfied that overall spending by my Department for 2006 will remain within the agreed Revised Estimates for the year.

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