Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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181. To ask the Minister for Finance the latest estimate from his Department of the budgetary adjustment that will be necessary to reach the troika’s target deficit of 5.1% in Budget 2014. [39341/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The estimate sought by the Deputy requires macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts which will be announced on Budget Day. My officials will incorporate the most recently announced economic data from the Quarterly National Accounts and the forthcoming end September Exchequer Returns to make the forecasts as accurate as possible. The change in the budgetary calendar this year makes the process of forecasting even more difficult than in previous years. Because of this I am not prepared to be drawn into speculation on budgetary matters at this time. However, I will say that preparations for the Budget are well underway in my Department, in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and all other Departments and that the Government remains committed to the consolidation path which will bring the deficit within 5.1% of GDP in 2014 and 2.9% of GDP in 2015.