Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As set out in the most recent fiscal monitor published by the Department of Finance, total gross voted expenditure at the end of March was €15.04 billion. This is €343 million, or 2.2%, below profile. Gross voted current expenditure is €14.167 billion, which is €245 million, or 1.7%, below profile. Of the 17 ministerial Vote groups, 14 were below profile on current expenditure to the end of March. Gross voted capital of €872 million is €98 million, or 10.1%, below profile but is up €105 million on March 2018.

Overall, out of all the different Votes that exist within the Government, the vast majority are below profile. Total gross expenditure for both capital and current was also below profile at the end of the first quarter. That said, given my experience in the second half of last year, I will be very careful and cautious about how this is managed, particularly in the run-up to the summer. While we have seen total Government spending come in below where we estimated it would be, I will be taking great care to ensure that this is maintained as we move through the year.

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