Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will respond to recent reports that savings required in the education budget in December will exceed the €77 million identified as part of last year's comprehensive expenditure review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51422/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Under the expenditure ceilings set as part of last year's Comprehensive Expenditure Review, my Department is required to secure savings on current expenditure of €77 million in 2013.

Due to the size and complexity of the Education and Skills Vote it is normal, and has been the case in recent years, for upward expenditure pressures to emerge in any given year. The net effect of these emerging pressures in 2013, after taking account of offsetting savings arising in other areas, will not be known until closer to the end of this year. However, it is currently anticipated that net upward pressures of the order of €13 million will have to be met in 2013. This means that I will have a requirement to secure overall savings and efficiencies of some €90 million to remain within the 2013 ceiling for my Vote.

The upward expenditure pressures identified relate mainly to pay expenditure for teachers and Special Needs Assistants, as well as to a projected reduction in Appropriations-in-Aid receipts. They pressures will be partly offset by anticipated reduced expenditure on a range of other subheads.