Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 48: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will give details of the proposals sought for the rationalisation of grant and subsidy schemes to be included in the comprehensive review of expenditure. [20337/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The aim of the ongoing Comprehensive Review of Expenditure is to examine all areas of expenditure. The onus is on each Department to examine every expenditure area within its remit, including all grant and subsidy schemes, and then to identify and efficiently target savings. It is the responsibility of each Minister and Department to bring forward such proposals in the context of their Expenditure Review Reports.

These individual Departmental reports are now being submitted to the high level Steering Committee for evaluation. Once finalised, the reports will be presented to the Economic Management Council in September. The results of the Comprehensive Review process will then be brought before Government for consideration and decisions as part of the Budget and Estimates process. I do not propose to comment on individual proposals contained in the Departmental Reports until the process has been completed.