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

If the expenditure is for good purposes, this side of the House will not argue against it. However, as my party's spokesperson on public expenditure, my objective today is to discuss the budgetary process with the Minister. He confirmed that a minimum of €250 million in Supplementary Estimates will be required for the three items of expenditure to which he referred. Further Supplementary Estimates will be required because the Department of Health has exceeded its expenditure allocation. The Minister also stated that he will spend additional money if economic circumstances allow because he will have it. In the budget, the Government will provide an expenditure plan on paper in the full knowledge that if it has more money next year, it will spend it. A full assessment of the forthcoming budget would, therefore, require finding out how much additional revenue the Government expects to receive next year. I presume Supplementary Estimates will be introduced this year and next year. If the Government has more revenue next year, it will spend it and it does not propose to announce this expenditure on budget day.

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