Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy asked a very profound question. Gross voted expenditure has been reduced from its peak of €63.1 billion in 2009 to just under €53 billion in 2014. This represents a reduction of 16% between 2009 and 2014 and will help us meet our general Government deficit target of 4.8%, which is still very large, for 2014. The radical improvement in the sustainability of the public finances has helped to achieve our exit from the EU-IMF programme of financial assistance.

Managing the delivery of public services within agreed budgetary allocations is a key responsibility of each Minister and Department and several measures are in place to help ensure that these set targets continue to be met. My Department is in regular communication with all Departments and offices to ensure that expenditure is being managed within agreed allocations and we monitor their draw down of funds from the Exchequer on a monthly basis. Where necessary, my Department also meets line Departments to review financial and budgetary management. I report to Government regularly on spending trends and we publish information each month as part of the Exchequer statement.

The end of December Exchequer returns outlined that voted expenditure was well within budget for 2013. Overall net voted expenditure of €43.1 billion was €300 million or 0.7% below the budget profile for 2013. This represented a decrease of almost €1.9 billion or 4.2% when compared to 2012 so the trajectory is being well managed. Any overruns in any individual Department that is demand-led is more than compensated by savings we can allocate that Department from other Departments. These figures demonstrate the ongoing effective management of expenditure to ensure that Government can achieve its fiscal objectives while meeting increased demands for delivery of good quality public services for citizens is under way.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

This effective management and delivery of savings is continuing in 2014 with the latest data on expenditure to end-March 2014 indicating that overall net voted expenditure was €261 million or 2.5% behind profile, a year-on-year decrease of €631 million or 5.8%. In gross terms voted expenditure was €164 million or 1.2% behind profile and was €452 million or 5.7% lower than the same period last year. The reduction in expenditure compared with the first quarter in 2013 illustrates that

Departments are working to deliver the savings measures outlined in budget 2014 and that the Government is firmly committed to meeting our deficit targets.

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