Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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10. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which each Government Department remains capable of meeting its budgetary targets with particular reference to savings or cost-cutting measures in respect of each individual Government Department and bodies under their aegis; if any particular trends are noted on past years’ performances; the corrective measures, if any, necessary or available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49524/13]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I am not asking for a pecking order or a rating, but some Departments have responded extremely well to meeting their budgetary targets, and at the same time delivering a high quality and high standard of service to the public. The question relates to the extent to which each Department has contributed to the delivery of those services.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The delivery of the required expenditure consolidation to achieve our fiscal targets in 2013 is a priority for Ministers and their Departments. My Department is working with all Departments and offices to monitor all current and capital spending on a monthly basis.

At the end of October, net voted expenditure was €844 million within profile. That means it was less than we expected to spend by the end of last month. This highlights that, notwithstanding pressures in some areas, the aggregate expenditure is being managed well within the targets for the year. The figures at the end of October indicate that there are current expenditure pressures in the justice and health groups of Votes. A Supplementary Estimate of just over €51 million will be required for the justice area, largely in respect of Garda pay. There is also €5 million for the Magdalen laundries issue, but savings will be made in the justice Vote. The position in the health sector is under review and my Department is working with the Department of Health to ascertain the scale of any Supplementary Estimate required. Based on the position at the end of October, it is anticipated that any overruns in the health and justice Votes can be met from savings elsewhere across the Government and will not have a negative impact on the Government’s aggregate end of year expenditure position. Savings across all profiles will be utilised so we will be within the voted spend.

The expenditure report published on 15 October outlined the expenditure measures required to be implemented in 2014 to meet the fiscal targets for 2014. My Department is currently working with Departments and offices with a view to publishing the detailed Revised Estimates volume for 2014 in early December. The ongoing review and monitoring by my Department, and the commitment of Ministers and their Departments to manage within their allocations, has ensured that we continue to be in a position to meet our fiscal targets.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. Is he satisfied that it will be possible to meet the same savings and expenditure targets next year, while continuing to deliver the required standard of service to the public through each Department and all the bodies under their aegis?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I wish to acknowledge the work of the public service, which has delivered, with a shrinking sum of money and 10% less personnel than its peak, a bigger service to more people. I am very satisfied that the level of capacity to do more with less will continue. There are still difficult times ahead. We are not out of the woods, but at least we are exiting the troika programme. We are much more in control of our own destiny. We have to live within our fiscal targets, but I am confident that will continue to be the case. The new legislative frameworks, such as the allowance of carryover, will allow for a more rational planning on a multi-annual basis for offices and Departments in the future.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. I extend the congratulations of everyone in the House to those involved in achieving the targets that have been achieved to date by unions, management and the various Government officials in their respective Departments.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I will convey those congratulations to the offices concerned. We need to continue with modernisation, increasing the platform for service delivery. We are coming to the end of the first two years of public sector reform. I will be publishing the second overview of public sector reform early next year and the next round of commitments for the following two years of reform. The first round was naturally focused on savings, because we wanted to meet fiscal targets. However, improving service to the public will be the next priority, and I look forward to bringing those proposals to the Joint Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform, if they invite me, early in the new year.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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It is now after 10.45 a.m., so that concludes Question Time.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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On a point of order, we were late starting today because a quorum was not established. We did not start until 9.38 a.m. There are eight minutes left. It is very clear under Standing Orders that there should one hour and 15 minutes available for questions. As an Opposition spokesman, I am not having a situation whereby Government Deputies choose not to come at the start of business. There are eight minutes left and there is time for two more questions.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Actually there are four minutes left, so I will take one more question.