Dáil debates

Thursday, 20 June 2019

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions

Departmental Expenditure

11:30 am

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

I was referring to a different matter yesterday. I said that with the economy in a surplus position, if the fiscal rules in the coming years were interpreted as they were drafted, it would allow a higher rate of expenditure growth than is appropriate for an economy growing at the current rate. This is the approach we used in last year's budget when a decision was made to try to get to a position of balance, and that came about. I indicated that we should have a debate in the Oireachtas on whether different rules should be put in place for expenditure growth in the coming years, given the rate of growth in the economy, the level of employment and the fact that we are aiming to move to a budgetary surplus this year.

Deputy Cowen made a point on different Departments but a small number of these Departments have been in breach of the expenditure ceilings.

That is not to underestimate those consequences.

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