Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 50: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total underspend in his Department to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28439/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The most recent Exchequer Statement to end May 2012 indicates that the Foreign Affairs Group (Votes 27 and 28 combined) has spent €241m so far in 2012 which is €86m less than the Department's expenditure profile as published in the Revised Estimates Volume.

The shortfall from profile almost entirely arises under Vote 27 where variances are due to timing issues in relation to disbursements to implementing partners under the Irish Aid programme. I expect a full spend as normal on the aid programme in 2012.