Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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21. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he remains satisfied that all Departments can remain within their expenditure targets without diminution of services in the current year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30966/16]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of the question is to ascertain the extent to which the Minister is satisfied that each Department can remain within its budgetary targets without diminution of services in the course of the year.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Responsibility for the delivery of public services and meeting targets on front-line services is a matter for each Minister and his or her Department. We are in constant communication with them on this, in particular as we approach the end of 2016. There is very regular reporting to Government on these matters and information is published monthly and made available to me as part of the Exchequer statement. In terms of where we stand at present, gross voted expenditure of €39.836 billion to the end of September was €439 million below profile. Gross current expenditure of €364 million was 1% below profile and capital expenditure was 3.4% below profile. The matter is checked regularly by my Department and the line Departments. The direct answer to the Deputy's question as to whether I expect Ministers to come in on budget and deliver the services to which they have committed for 2016 is "Yes".

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. Does he sees potential, on foot of the data already available to him, for an overrun in any Department? If so, what measures can be taken to avert that at this stage?

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am not expecting an overrun in any Department. I have made it very clear to all of my colleagues, in particular in the higher spending Departments, that we must deliver against the commitment we have for budget 2016. In fact, many plans for 2017 are predicated on commitments colleagues have to deliver within budget this year. My answer to the Deputy's supplementary question is the same as that which I gave to his first question. I expect all Departments to come in on or under budget in 2016.