Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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59. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform whether he expects to be in a position to meet all the targets set by his Department and other Government Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6217/15]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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61. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he expects reform to continue to play a role in the curtailment of expenditure, in accordance with the targets and guidelines set down and agreed with the troika across all Government Departments and relevant subordinate bodies, in the course of the next 12 months; if he is satisfied that sufficient latitude exists to encourage economic expansion and growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6219/15]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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62. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he can foresee any relaxation of the guidelines laid down by the troika, within which his Department is expected to operate over the course of the current year, with particular reference to the need to meet pressing but necessary expenditure of an infrastructural nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6221/15]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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63. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which any particular corrective measures remain to be taken in respect of curtailment of expenditure or increased expenditure to address specific needs in the course of the next five years, having particular regard to the achievements to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6222/15]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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64. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which savings continue to be made across each and all Government Departments, in the context of meeting targets laid down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6223/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 61 to 64, inclusive, together.

While Ireland is no longer subject to the Troika programme having successfully exited the EU-IMF programme of financial support in December 2013, there remain the annual deficit ceilings set out in the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP).  The Government's key budgetary target for 2015 is to bring the General Government Deficit below 3% of GDP so that Ireland can exit the EDP at the end of this year.

With the recovery in the economy and the improvement in the fiscal outlook, the Government in agreeing expenditure allocations for 2015 was able to provide for targeted increases in expenditure to support the delivery of key social and economic objectives. 

In this context, it is clear that fiscal policy has moved its focus away from consolidation and towards prudent prioritisation and allocation of resources with sustainable modest increases in both current and capital expenditure. The allocations provided in the Revised Estimates Volume 2015 across Government Departments for 2015, and the multi-annual expenditure ceilings published in the Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2015 2017 will assist with ensuring the ongoing provision of vital public services at an affordable cost while also serving to further support the nascent but strengthening economic recovery.

It is the responsibility of Ministers and their Departments to manage within their 2015 expenditure allocations to ensure that our key deficit target for 2015 is achieved.  My Department will monitor and report on expenditure trends to Government and engage with Departments in relation to managing expenditure within profile. 

Economic growth requries sound and sustainable management of the public finances. Added to this, the growth-friendly environment and policies, as well as the significant public service reforms undertaken, provide the foundations for sustained economic growth.

Reforms to the way in which the public service operates will provide Irish citizens with high-quality public services that are delivered in an efficient and cost-effective manner. The increased focus on evaluation of expenditure policies and programmes has also contributed to our ability to effectively manage and allocate resources across all areas of public policy. The forthcoming Capital Review will set out multi-annual capital expenditure ceilings for Departments, reflecting the Government's identification of the infrastructure investment which will best underpin future growth and help address pressing social requirements.