Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach the expenditure incurred by his Department during the first half of 2006; the way in which this compares to the figures projected in the Estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25552/06]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 7: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his Department's expenditure in the first half of 2006; the way in which this compares with the first half of 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30670/06]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.

Expenditure by my Department from January 2006 to the end of August 2006 was €19.547 million compared with a total Estimates provision for the year of €37.675 million. This compares with total expenditure of €18.047 million for the period to end August 2005, an increase of 8.3%.

While fluctuations in spending occur from month to month and some expenditures do not fall due until the end of the year, I am satisfied that overall spending by my Department for 2006 will remain within the agreed Revised Estimates for the year.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am strongly of the opinion that we should revive the discussion about the European constitution. Does the Taoiseach possess a figure for the allocation for the activities of the National Forum on Europe for 2006 and is there a tentative figure for 2007, in view of the importance of that matter and the fact that the French and the Dutch must make their decisions as well?

The National Economic and Social Development office incorporates the National Economic and Social Council, the National Economic and Social Forum and the National Centre for Partnership and Performance. Will the Taoiseach provide a breakdown of the level of funding allocated by his Department to each of these agencies for 2006?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The National Forum on Europe comes under subhead N in my Department's Vote. The Estimate provision for the year is €1.491 million. Up to the end of August, €835,312 had been expended and the balance remaining is €655,688. That allocation was increased at the beginning of the year. Most of the allocations should come in on target, depending on various expenditures, but the month on month figures are not reliable. Sufficient resources are available. Discussions are ongoing regarding the 2007 Estimates but I am conscious we should keep the forum going at its existing level. There should not be a difficulty meeting its allocation for 2007. There is no great issue, as it is seen as doing a good job and its publications are useful. The forum extended its reach during the summer months to locations where large numbers of the public were in attendance and that worked well. The staff has been engaged in meeting and addressing the people.

The NCCP, the NESF and the NESC are covered under separate subheads with the NCCP allocated €1.46 million while the NESF was allocated €704,000. At the end of August, both organisations were broadly on line to meet their expenditure. The NESC was allocated €1.923 million and it is also on line to meet this allocation. The advantage is that all the organisations are working from a central office in Parnell Square and the administrative costs are shared. While the organisations are still separate, carrying out their individual functions, the value is that the overheads and administration costs are collective. There has been a good administrative saving as a result but the organisations still have separate remits. The NESF continues to be a strategic organisation dealing with reports on the economy, social partnership and other issues while the NCCP very much works on social policy and issues identified by Oireachtas Members who are also members of the committee. Overall, the organisations have no funding problems and operate well within budget with no pressure on their allocations.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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With regard to Deputy Kenny's question about the National Forum on Europe, given that the Department's Estimate increased by 15% this year, will that additional money be expended? Does the Taoiseach expect a further increase will be needed in 2007? If so, will he outline the activity that will take place to warrant that?

I refer to the allocations for the Moriarty tribunal. The House debated a six-month extension of the tribunal previously with full rates to be paid to the lawyers involved. Will this extension be the end of the matter? Will the Taoiseach shed some light on the difference between the initial Estimate for the tribunal, which was expected to cost 14% less in 2006 than in 2005 and the revised Estimate in January 2006, which provided that the tribunal would cost 134% more in 2006 than in 2005? Will he explain this huge disparity and indicate how the Estimates could be so different? Should we believe the Estimates? Do they have a basis?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The National Forum on Europe received a good increase in this year's Estimate and it is more or less on line to meet its allocation. We are examining next year's allocation but it has been upped significantly. The forum does not have expenditure difficulties. It is in a good position and has a good base from which to fulfil its remit and take as active a role as the forum and its members wish it to take. I do not see a difficulty for the 2007 Estimate at this stage.

To date, €3.3 million has been spent by the Moriarty tribunal. As Deputy Sargent noted, there is a total provision of €8 million in this subhead, a substantial portion of which was provided to meet the payment of legal costs arising from the award of costs to parties appearing before the tribunal, should its work be completed this year. That estimate was based on the work before the tribunal sought an extension until January. It was intended that when the work was complete, the decisions would then be made on the legal fees, which would then have to be paid. Whether that will happen this year, I do not know, but my Department will continue to closely monitor expenditure in the subhead. Any savings likely to be achieved will be made available to the Department of Finance but, obviously, we will have to include them in the Estimate again next year because they will ultimately have to be paid whenever the final report is published. There has been no change of dates with regard to the report since I last reported to the House.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My questions relate to those two topics. First, there is a kind of holding piece for the McCracken tribunal. Is it likely the tribunal's work will be completed or finished? What is outstanding that requires a small reservation in the Estimates?

The Taoiseach has already answered on the Moriarty tribunal, which is the second issue I wish to raise. What is the Taoiseach's estimate as to when the bulk of that tribunal's report will be completed, the cost of it paid and the process closed down?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The allocation for the McCracken tribunal was held over for Estimate purposes. Very few issues remain in that regard and it is probably a subhead that will be dropped in the next round of Estimates. The fees element of the Moriarty tribunal could go into next year. As I understand it, the first of the reports is due sometime in the autumn. It was originally due in the early summer but was then rescheduled for the autumn. The second report is due early in the new year. While I am not certain, I assume the fees elements will be dealt with in the 2007 Estimates.