Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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263. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No.241 of 17 February 2015, if, and the way, Ireland's treaty obligation to ensure progressive realisation of economic, social and cultural rights to the maximum of available resources is taken into account in the comprehensive review of expenditure process; if the various Departments are instructed to undertake an analysis in meeting these obligations in preparation of their departmental submission papers; and if his Department takes account of these obligations in preparation of its own Department-by-Department analysis papers, drawn up in response to the departmental submissions. [8074/15]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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265. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will itemise the specific measures by which the Government's treaty obligation to ensure progressive realisation of economic, social and cultural rights to the maximum of available resources is reflected in the expenditure measures in budget 2015. [8076/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 and 265 together.

The Government's priorities in returning stability to the public finances, have been to meet fiscal targets while also ensuring that economic recovery is supported and the most vulnerable in society are protected.  This approach to economic and fiscal policy, through maintaining an acceptable social safety net and returning the unemployed to work, has been consistent with the ideals set out under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Expenditure in critical economic and social sectors has been protected to the greatest extent possible: in 2015 some four-fifths of gross voted current expenditure is allocated to the Social Protection, Health and Education sectors.  Our continued prioritisation of these sectors has meant that primary social welfare rates have been maintained since this Government took office.  Our commitment to protecting our society's most vulnerable is also found in recent data published by Eurostat showing that Ireland's system of social transfers, the redistribution of wealth and income to those most in need, is among the most effective in Europe at reducing the at risk of poverty rate.

Aside from social transfers, the fundamental reforms to labour market activation undertaken by this Government represent a significant modernisation of Ireland's approach to tackling unemployment through a two-pronged approach: Pathways to Work ensures that the unemployed are given a chance to up-skill and re-join the workforce; while the Action Plan for Jobs has directed its efforts towards boosting labour demand through key reforms.

Similarly, our investment in the Health sector has ensured that key frontline services have been maintained and will be enhanced further through initiatives such as extending free GP care to children under 6 years of age. In the area of Education we have sought to protect DEIS expenditure which prioritises the educational needs of children and young people from disadvantaged areas. Furthermore, this prioritisation of expenditure has been pursued against the backdrop of increasing demands on public services due to cyclical economic conditions and demographic factors.

Last year's Comprehensive Review of Expenditure informed the expenditure measures in Budget 2015. The Review was informed by Government priorities and took into account economic and societal demands. The main objectives of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure process were to provide Government with the necessary evidence and analysis to re-align spending with the priorities set out in the Programme for Government; meet overall fiscal objectives; and explore new and innovative ways of delivering Government policy in a reformed public sector.

In the context of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, Ministers and their Departments had primary responsibility for delivering a detailed expenditure report based on evaluation of each budgetary programme under their remit, including programmes delivered by Government Agencies. The analysis carried out by Departments drew on a wide-ranging base of evidence developed since the last Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, including previous expenditure evaluations and policy analysis. Naturally, as part of the overall approach to undertaking this analysis Departments considered any relevant obligations leading to expenditure commitments, as deemed appropriate by each Department.

Overall the Government's approach to implementing the difficult but necessary fiscal adjustment over recent years has ensured that vital public services were protected during challenging economic times. On the back of these efforts, the economic and fiscal position in which Ireland now finds itself is vastly improved, and Budget 2015 provided an opportunity to alleviate pressures and enhance certain key services. The Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2015 2017 and the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2015 protects and provides for expenditure allocations in fundamental policy areas: anticipated Live Register savings from falling unemployment in 2015 have been reinvested to ensure that Ireland's effective system of social transfers is adequately funded in the face of rising demographic pressures; the allocation provided to the Health sector will deliver 1.7 million Medical Cards and a further 0.4 million GP Visit Cards; capital investment of €2.2bn (public and private) on the multi-annual housing programme will lead to an additional 10,000 social housing units by 2018; increased investment in education will allow for an additional 920 mainstream teachers, an additional 480 resource teachers for children with special education needs and 365 Special Needs Assistants; funding is provided for the establishment of the Low Pay Commission. The overall 2015 expenditure allocations will support the ongoing work of Government in furthering the economic, social and cultural rights of all Irish citizens.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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264. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 241 of 17 February 2015, if he will report on his Department's contribution to the interdepartmental progress consultation on the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights currently under way. [8075/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is currently in the process of compiling a Response to the List of Issues drawn up by the United Nations Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights in relation to the third periodic examination of Ireland under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) which is scheduled to take place in June 2015.  They have written to relevant Departments requesting inputs to the Response.  My Department is in the process of preparing its reply to that request. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will compile the final report on the basis of inputs from Departments.