Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Sustainable public finances are a pre-requisite for maintaining an adequate system of social protection as well as achieving future economic stability and growth. For these reasons, the State must pursue a determined deficit reduction strategy. Accordingly, there will be an on-going requirement to curtail expenditure in my Department and in all other Departments, in 2012 and in later years. All Departments are aware that the Government has to bring forward major savings across the full range of public expenditure and to prioritise resources very carefully. The purpose of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure is to assess the effectiveness and value for money of spending programmes across all Departments and agencies.

The appropriate level of overall expenditure by my Department in the years ahead will be considered in the context of budget 2012 and subsequent budgets. All considerations will be informed by the commitment in the Programme for Government to maintain social welfare rates and by the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure. My Department has forwarded preliminary savings options to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as part of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure. My officials continue to engage with the Department on the options outlined in the review, with a view to preparing material for the Economic Management Council and the Government.

All decisions arising from the review will be decided in the final instance by Government. As is the norm during the initial stage of the budgetary process, details will not be released in advance of Government decisions. My ministerial colleague, Deputy Howlin, has already indicated that he intends to publish the reports submitted as part of the review process following the finalisation of the budgetary process later this year.

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