Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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33. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has costed the agreements made with Independent Teachtaí Dála and with Fianna Fáil to maintain the Government; the total costs involved; the impact for the 2016 Estimates of Expenditure; if he envisages alterations in expenditure limits for any Department in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13249/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The programme for a partnership Government lays the foundation for the new Government's ambition to build a strong economy and deliver a fair society. It is complemented by the policy principles set out in the agreement made with Fianna Fáil to facilitate the effective operation of the partnership Government. The programme contains a commitment to spend at least €6.75 billion more on public services by 2021 compared to 2016. This will allow expenditure to be increased to meet the additional costs arising from an ageing and growing population and to provide for targeted improvements in public services. In addition, the Government proposes a cumulative additional €4 billion in Exchequer capital investment up to 2021.

As stated in the programme, the new Government will ensure in respect of every policy challenge that a balance is struck between addressing urgent priorities by utilising the action plan framework set out in the programme document and engaging in long-term planning and thinking so that lasting solutions with broad-based support are implemented. In order to implement this approach effectively in practice, a key action for the Government's first 100 days is to secure agreement with the Oireachtas on putting in place a reformed budget process. This is intended to secure a more participatory approach underpinned by a substantially enhanced Dáil input into and feedback on the development of budgetary priorities. It is envisaged that an important element of this new model will be to facilitate appropriate consultation and engagement on the costings of specific measures intended to respond to particular programme for Government priorities, as well as examining how these measures align with overall fiscal parameters.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

In this regard and as part of the proposed new arrangements in respect of the budget process, which I announced with the Minister for Finance last week, it is proposed that the Government will publish a mid-year expenditure report. It is envisaged that this report will set out revised end-year outturns for 2016, outlining the impact of any additional expenditure on ministerial expenditure ceilings. This new approach will have a central role to play in guiding and informing deliberation by the Oireachtas on budgetary options and in shaping the Government's budgetary proposals in due course. These proposals would then form the basis for setting out the proposed departmental expenditure ceilings required to accommodate the specific measures to deliver the programme for Government priorities.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I wish the Minister every success in his challenging job. I do not know whether it is good news or bad to note that I will not be shadowing him myself into the future. However, I wish him and his Ministers of State well. I have two simple questions for the Minister. While I appreciate the 2021 perspective in his reply, I did not ask about it. I asked two things. The first was about the costings. The Department has prepared them and there will be FOI requests in that regard. However, it is important in the new politics that we get answers in the House rather than wait for responses to FOI requests. What is the cost of the commitments entered into by the Government with Fianna Fáil and the Independents?

What are the implications for this year's Revised Estimates of expenditure? What additionality is there in the 2016 Book of Estimates? Today, I read that the Government had made a number of commitments about Garda overtime and so on. Will there be adjustments in the Revised Estimates Volume, REV, for 2016 and when will we be notified of their specifics?

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am reviewing the status of the 2016 Estimates with the Government. We will introduce them later this year than would have been the norm during the Deputy's tenure in this role. I aim to secure Government approval for the Estimates soon. When that is done, the information will have to be made available to the Dáil because the Dáil must vote on them.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I thank the Minister but surely the Government did not enter into programme for Government commitments without costing them in advance. That would have been foolhardy in the extreme. What are the costs of those commitments over and above the Revised Estimates for 2016?

Under the new budgetary process, we will shortly see Estimates. However, discussing the 2017 Estimates would be a vacuous process if we did not know the implications of the 2016 outturn figures. Regarding the Garda Vote specifically, what is the Minister's best shot at the additionality that will be required? I do not doubt that the Minister has asked about and has been well briefed - he has very good officials - on the expected health overrun this year. Will there be additional money for delayed discharges, the fair deal scheme, the winter initiative and the waiting list initiative? This morning on the news, I listened to the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, who wanted an emergency €80 million fund for new drugs. Will that be provided as well?

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I agree with the Deputy that in the context of the new budgetary process, we must know where we stand this year before we look to next year. He made a fair point. Alas, my answer to him is the same.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Minister does not know.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am reviewing the issue with my colleagues. As soon as I have reviewed the Estimates that were designed to be passed at the start of this year and determined whether they remain the appropriate ceilings, we will make the figures available to the Dáil, as is required and given the fact they need to be passed.

Regarding the Deputy's question on the cost of the programme for Government, it will be more than €6.7 billion over a five-year period. As to the year-by-year cost, my colleagues and I will go through the same process that the Deputy implemented well in the previous five years. We will consider the commitments on a year-by-year basis. Those that are affordable each year will be met, with their costs included in the Estimates for that year.