Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Gross voted total expenditure in 2007 was €56.4 billion, in 2011 it was €57.4 billion, and for 2014 the estimate is just under €53 billion. Gross voted current expenditure in 2007 was €48.6 billion, in 2011 it was €52.8 billion, and the estimate for 2014 is €49.6 billion, as I have stated previously.

The Deputy is specifically asking about expenditure in 2007, 2011 and 2014. Any analysis focusing solely on those particular years masks expenditure trends in the period, but I think the Deputy knows that. In particular, there were large increases in expenditure between 2007 and 2009 and very challenging fiscal corrections have been required since then which necessitated significant expenditure consolidation.  Voted spending has been reduced by more than €10 billion from the 2009 peak of over €63 billion to the present level of €53 billion.  The consolidation measures this Government has introduced have ensured Ireland's successful exit from the EU-IMF programme of financial support last year. This consolidation has been achieved while responding to increased needs for public services and supports - and this is evident across the three largest-spending sectors of welfare, health and education.

The live register increased from 159,000 in January 2007 to 470,000 at its peak in July 2011, and we have now seen a reduction of that level to just over 390,000 in March 2014.

There has also been increased pressure on other primary social protection payments such as pensions, working age income supports, working age employment supports and illness supports. These pressures are reflected in the allocation of €19.6 billion for social protection in 2014, which is €4.2 billion above the amount required in 2007.

Consolidation of health expenditure has taken place in a context of significant demands for services. The numbers of medical and GP cards have increased from more than 1.2 million cards in 2007 to an expected outturn of 2 million at the end of last year, a significant increase of 700,000 cards.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

While funding for the Department of Education and Skills Vote increased between 2007 and 2014 by €700 million, this is primarily due to the national training fund and FÁS transferring to the Vote in 2011. Over this period there have been increased demographic pressures on services, with the number of students at primary and secondary school increasing from approximately 814,000 in 2007 to almost 890,000 in 2013.

The efforts of all Ministers and Departments to ensure expenditure targets continue to be met, and that public expenditure remains sustainable, have enabled the Government to focus on protecting and improving public services within the constraints set by the overall national and EU level fiscal frameworks.

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