Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in respect of the October Exchequer returns, the reason the capital spending for his Department was €13m below profile for this period; his plans to ensure that the full capital spending is implemented before the end of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53825/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A profile of projected expenditure on a monthly basis is drawn up at the beginning of each year in order to anticipate the Department’s funding requirements and financial management over the course of the year. The profile which is the best estimate of expenditure available at the time is difficult to forecast and may vary significantly during the year for a variety of reasons, such as the level of payments under demand led schemes, the pattern of drawdown of Grants-in-Aid by State bodies, etc. A monthly report is prepared showing actual expenditure against the profile.

The October Exchequer returns for my Department and show that the there are a number of budget lines, which are, for a variety of reasons, behind profile. I expect that in most cases expenditure will ‘catch up’ before the end of the year. Expenditure is being monitored and managed carefully with a view to minimising savings on this year’s Vote. The final outcome is to a large extent driven by factors outside the Department’s control but in the overall context of the Department’s Vote of €1.339billion, I do not expect a significant underspend this year.