Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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1. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an update on general budgetary expenditure measures. [39486/25]

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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Is dócha gurb é seo an uair dheireanach a bheimid ag suí roimh an samhradh. An cheist is mó atá i mbéal an phobail faoi láthair ná céard go díreach a bheidh ag tarlú leis an gcáinaisnéis. I ask the Minister for an update on general budgetary expenditure measures. There had been an expectation that the summer economic statement was due to be released this week, but it now looks like it will be next week.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Farrell. Some €106.4 billion in gross voted funding is being provided in 2025 to deliver on Government priorities and commitments. This significant level of investment reflects the priorities of budget 2025 and this Government’s commitment to deliver continued improvements in our infrastructure and enhance our existing public services to build a stronger future. End of June expenditure figures were published earlier this month in the Fiscal Monitor. Total gross voted expenditure for the first half of the year amounted to €50.9 billion. While spending is slightly higher than expected for the first half of the year with an overspend of €0.3 billion or 0.7% compared to profiles, the overall position is broadly in line with the amount profiled by Departments to be spent by the end of June. The majority of Vote groups remain in line with profile at an overall level.

Compared with this time last year, spending is €3.8 billion or 8.2% higher than the end of June 2024 position. This level of spending demonstrates sustained high level of investment in the delivery of public services and infrastructure.

Year-on-year capital spending levels have increased substantially, with capital spending of €5.8 billion, up 22.5% or €1.1 billion. There are substantial increases in key capital spending Departments such as the Department of housing, where spending is up 36% year on year, health, which is up €0.2 billion, or 92%, and transport, which is up 20% over June 2024. Current spending of €45.1 billion has increased by €2.8 billion or 6.5% year on year. This reflects spending on budget priorities in areas such as increased social protection weekly rates, teaching posts and health sector investment. Investment in 2025 builds on the additional funding provided over recent years, which is delivering record levels of capital investment and public services to a growing and changing population. It is continuing the delivery of vital infrastructure needed to support our future economic and social progress.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for that initial overview. It will not surprise him that I raise this, but one of the big things is the capital spend on infrastructure. Storm Éowyn put into sharp focus the creaking infrastructure we have across the west of Ireland, in particular. That is obviously an area I would like to see huge progress in. I am aware the Minister knows the west of Ireland quite well. I know he cannot give me specific figures on what exactly will be spent on budget day. However, will he identify some general capital projects that will get additional funding? It is fair to say we need to see identifiable progress in the likes of the basic crucial infrastructure that needs to be invested in, in the west of Ireland.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The overall process on the national development plan is continuing. We have approximately €20 billion to allocate across critical areas in our economy. We know with the Department of housing that continued investment in public infrastructure for housing is central to this process. We have set out the priority areas of housing, energy, transport and water infrastructure in particular. That will give Ministers across many areas additional head room to invest in infrastructure across our economy. We are continuing that process this week, so I cannot give an individual breakdown of what that will mean. It is just to say this will allow a lot of Ministers to increase the overall spend vis-à-vis the baseline allocations they were given in the previous national development plan process. We will be able to set out further clarity on that next week.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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I look forward to seeing how that unfolds. It is incredibly important. It is interesting that on both the budgetary oversight and finance committees we have been dealing with the issue of tariffs. One of the big things is how we can protect ourselves. What may or may not happen nobody can predict. One of the longer term things is the investment in capital infrastructure, so we can build housing and our own economic structures. It is about being targeted and putting in place the kind of infrastructure that will help support indigenous companies as well. If there is a big focus on capital infrastructure, and there is a mind to address some of those issues, we need to put all of our focus on that. I also ask that the Minister mentions the issue of procurement, which I have mentioned before, to make sure we get the best value for the local economy and for local people out of the investment we make.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I share that objective. That is why giving that additional scope to Ministers across their respective policy areas to invest in critical infrastructure is essential as part of the national development plan. We are at a point of significant economic uncertainty and this Government is clearly setting out that we want to seriously increase our overall investment in critical infrastructure, which will provide the growth, prosperity and jobs for the future. We know that housing, energy, water and transport in particular are areas requiring that additional investment. There are other areas that require the additionality to provide for critical services and social infrastructure across communities in Ireland. That is also part of the wider process in terms of the national development plan. We share those objectives, particularly when we have the wider uncertainty. We need to provide for that growth and opportunity for the future. We will be able to set out further detail next week.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Paul Murphy is not here, so it is Deputy Farrell's lucky day. She has two in a row. You are up again.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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Go raibh maith agat. Sometimes you are waiting a few minutes in between questions.