Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for being delayed in getting to the Chamber for the debate on this motion. The Revised Estimates Volume 2019 sets out total net voted expenditure for the year of €53.9 billion. On budget day, the requirements for a number of Supplementary Estimates for 2019 were set out in the 2020 expenditure report. The total amount proposed in respect of substantive Supplementary Estimates amounts to €634 million. This is below the €660 million estimated requirement set out on budget day and reflects certain minor expenditure developments in the intervening period. In total, 13 substantive Supplementary Estimates and technical Supplementary Estimates are required in 2019.

As set out in the 2020 expenditure report, there will be a 100% Christmas bonus for social welfare recipients in 2019. Approximately €17 million of that amount will be paid from the Social Insurance Fund and this element will not require a Supplementary Estimate. However, a Supplementary Estimate of €100 million is required by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to meet the Exchequer element of the bonus.

The justice Vote group requires Supplementary Estimates of €51 million in total. Of this, €17.5 million is required for the Garda Vote as a result of security costs associated with the visits of President Trump and Vice President Pence. Further to this, just over €33 million is required for the Department of Justice and Equality Vote due to pressures relating to the provision of asylum seekers accommodation.

The 2020 expenditure report set out the requirement for an additional €335 million for health services in 2019. In addition, the amount being provided today includes a further €3 million in respect of Brexit-related health infrastructural costs. The additional funding being provided for today accounts for 2% of the original overall net health allocation for 2019. In comparison, a 4.4% increase above the original overall net allocation was provided to the health sector last year by way of a Supplementary Estimate.

A Supplementary Estimate of €4 million is being provided to Revenue to meet costs related to Brexit infrastructure at the ports and Dublin Airport.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will receive a Supplementary Estimate of just under €20 million primarily in respect of Brexit infrastructure. In addition, the reallocation of resources in the Vote will ensure that provision is made for all expenditure pressures, inclusive of the rural development programme. It is expected that this amount will be offset by higher than anticipated EU receipts.

As set out in the 2020 expenditure report, there are various pressures on the education Vote, necessitating a Supplementary Estimate of €68 million for 2019. This relates primarily to pay and pensions pressures, as well as school transport costs.

As in previous years, the increase in the defence Vote group ceiling, required to accommodate the Supplementary Estimate for Army Pensions, is expected to be offset by underspends elsewhere in the Vote group.

There are several other substantive Supplementary Estimates required, including €21 million for the Department of Finance in regard to the settlement of aviation-related legal cases, as well as €10 million of additional funding for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The Office of the Chief State Solicitor's Office requires a Supplementary Estimate of €5 million due to higher than anticipated legal fees arising from a number of long-running court cases. There are also pressures arising in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in respect of the Child and Family Agency, requiring a Supplementary Estimate of €15 million.

Due to pressures on both pay and non-pay administrative costs, an additional €470,000 is required by the Public Appointments Service.

Finally, several technical Supplementary Estimates are required this year, including for Vote 12, superannuation and retired allowances. This is required to provide for €5 million of potential additional costs relating to public service pensions that will be offset by additional receipts. Other technical Supplementary Estimates were required by the Votes for the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. As is usual, it is expected that there will be savings in some areas across the system which will partially offset the Supplementary Estimates.

The additional expenditure provided by way of Supplementary Estimates amounts to 1.2% of the net voted expenditure allocation for the year. This represents a responsible approach towards ensuring that public services are adequately funded to meet Government's key social and economic objectives of protecting the vulnerable in society and creating the conditions to support growth in employment.

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