Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to dig a bit deeper into this. I hear the Minister loud and clear in terms of the 2.3% deficit target. The issue arises as to whether there might be space for additional expenditure to by made in 2015 in circumstances where that target could still be met. Is there any space to spend or have supplementary welfare budgets beyond the overruns in the Department at this point that would allow the Minister to reach the 2.3% target and spend money on social welfare? It is a way of circumventing the expenditure benchmark rules. Otherwise, it would not be done and it would be announced in the budget and would take effect in 2016. It has been signalled by Government that the intention is to introduce a number of supplementary budgets that would allow for measures such as restoring the Christmas bonus or increasing child benefit but that would not be included in the fiscal space in terms of expenditure of €750 million.

Is there space in that regard?

I have a question on the White Paper on expenditure and receipts. It comes out at midnight the Friday before the budget. I do not believe that it could not be brought forward or that information like that could not be provided with all the caveats closer to budget day to have a better informed debate, particularly from the Opposition parties and other interested parties outside the House.

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