Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

338. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide figures for the expenditure carry-over from budget 2015. [20550/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Budget 2015 marked a welcome point in our fiscal recovery with overall reductions in expenditure no longer required to meet our fiscal targets. Targeted increases were provided in areas of priority - particularly social housing, some welfare supports and Education. 

The Government's recent Spring Economic Statement outlined that our estimate of the fiscal space for Budget 2016 is of the order of €1.2 billion to €1.5 billion. This would allow Government to target increasing gross voted expenditure by €600 million to €750 million in 2016 relative to 2015 spend. This provides Government with the scope to manage any additional impact of previous Budgets, deal with underlying demographic and spending pressures, and target enhancements in key public services. The expenditure ceilings set out in Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2015-2017 already reflect certain expenditure needs including demographics in Health, Education and Social Protection. 

Separate to this, Departments are able to avail of a capital carryover facility which allows them to carry over a portion of any unspent capital into the next financial year. This facility has been in place since 2004 and the actual amount that can be carried over is subject to Dáil approval. The amount to be carried over from 2014 to 2015 is €79 million. It can be expected that this facility will be available in respect of capital carryover from 2015 to 2016, with the amount involved dependent on the level of unspent voted capital expenditure relative to the 2015 Departmental capital allocations.