Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If the budget for 2016 is based on the outturn for 2015, the Minister must have a reasonable indication of the 2015 outturn figure. It is possible that no Supplementary Estimates will be introduced. Does this mean the budget will be based on figures in respect of the outturn of expenditure in 2015? If so, will this figure be held back from the Dáil or will this information be shared with members of the public whose money the Government is spending?

The Minister referred to the possibility of €750 million being made available for additional expenditure in the coming year and indicated he wants to live within that figure. However, given that the Supplementary Estimates for 2014 amounted to €1.2 billion, the public is entitled to conclude that the additional expenditure provided for on budget day is only small change when compared to the additional expenditure that will be announced by the end of the year. The Government is diminishing the role of the budget by introducing Supplementary Estimates that are larger than the expenditure increases provided for in the budget.

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