Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I was asked about the budgetary process last week and will respond to Deputy Durkan's question for the information of the Dáil. What I intend to do this year is very different to what has applied to any other budget to date. It will give all Deputies the opportunity to assess the process leading to the budget so that they will be able to comment and provide views about alternatives.

We propose that before the Minister for Finance eventually reads out his budget a medium-term fiscal statement will be published - by the end of October - which will set out the Government's planned fiscal adjustment path, including tax spends split in the current capital split for the period 2012-2015, in line with the agreed commitments entered into under the EU-IMF programme. Given the presidential election the publication may well be delayed until the first few days in November.

Second, a medium-term capital investment programme will be published on Thursday, 10 November which will set out the capital envelopes for each Department for 2012 - 2016, in the light of the outcomes of the capital review.

Third, an expenditure reform programme on Thursday, 17 November will announce reform measures in the context of the comprehensive review of expenditure, including the medium-term expenditure framework and the new value for money arrangements agreed by the Government on 11 October. Other initiatives will be announced that will have been dealt with by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

Fourth, a comprehensive expenditure report on Thursday, 1 December will set out the high-level outcomes of the comprehensive review of expenditure along with the multiannual expenditure ceilings for each Department for 2012 - 2015, and the budget Estimates for 2012. All the background comprehensive review of expenditure documents will be made available on-line for the information of the people and everybody else.

Fifth, the White Paper on receipts and expenditure for 2012 will be published on Friday, 2 December and will set out the technical opening position for the Exchequer in advance of the budget day announcements. The 2012 budget, on Tuesday, 6 December, will set out the tax decisions and overall Exchequer position.

That has never been done in this House since the foundation of the State. It will apply now and every Deputy will have the opportunity to have thorough and comprehensive analysis of the scale of the challenge our country faces.

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