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

Vote allocations are decided as part of the Estimates process each year. Following publication of the summer economic statement, the Secretary General of my Department writes to all other Departments requesting proposals for the upcoming budget, including where they consider additional funding to be required. These requests are then assessed as part of preparations for the budget.

Managing expenditure within the allocations included in the Revised Estimates Volume, REV, for public services is voted on by the Dáil and is a key responsibility of every Department and Minister. My Department is in regular contact with all Departments regarding actual and projected spending, with key data on voted expenditure published every month.

Where a Department has additional expenditure demands over and above the amounts set out in the REV, and where any savings identified are not sufficient to cover the cost of such additional demands within a Vote, a Supplementary Estimate may be required to provide the additional funds.

Over the course of 2023, additional resources of €5.5 billion, in net terms, were agreed by Government and approved by the Dáil by way of Supplementary Estimates.

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