Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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34. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans for the establishment of an office of budget statistics which would assist in costing proposals from Oireachtas Members and other interested parties; if this will be established prior to the next general election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11702/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware from my reply to a recent parliamentary question, I indicated that the establishment of an independent budgetary office to provide costings of alternative budgets on request from members of the Oireachtas should be considered in depth. 

This Government is very much in favour of initiatives that improve the quality of debate around budgetary priorities and the best allocation of resources.  However, this is a complicated matter and the work undertaken by such a body would have to be subject to strict terms of reference. Care must be taken to ensure that such a body does not supplant the role of Government and the Oireachtas through gaining, for instance, an effective veto power over proposals that it dislikes in purely economic terms.  

My initial thinking is that this office should be an independent statutory body.  My officials have commenced research on bodies of this type in other countries and they are liaising with officials in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with the objective of preparing options for consideration in the coming months.

Should the Government decide to pursue this, the next step will be to commence work on the legislative requirements to establish such a body.  Given the nature and purpose of the body, I would envisage a need for an extensive consultation process.  

Finally, while I cannot commit to definitive timeframes given the exploratory nature of this issue, I would think that is unlikely to be ready in advance of the forthcoming Budget.