Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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64. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the legal expenditure ceilings for each of the years 2016 to 2019; the percentage increase these represent from the baseline of 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1918/16]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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In accordance with the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2013, Expenditure Report 2016 published by my Department on Budget day outlines Ministerial Expenditure Ceilings for the three year period from 2016 to 2018. 

The ceilings for 2016 have subsequently been revised by Government in line with the allocations for 2016 set out in the Revised Estimates Volume ("REV") 2016 published by my Department on 17 December 2015.

The overall Government Expenditure Ceiling of €55.3 billion for 2016, set out in the REV, represents an increase of 1.2% over the 2015 gross voted expenditure estimated outturn of €54.67 billion reported with the end December Exchequer returns. 

This rate of expenditure growth belies much of the commentary by the media and others on the conduct of expenditure policy.  The control of public expenditure - while meeting priority social needs - strongly reflects a prudent and responsible approach to expenditure policy consistent with the fiscal framework.

The ceilings of €56.17 billion for 2017 and €57.04 billion for 2018 represent increases versus this 2015 outturn of 2.7% and 4.3% respectively.

The ceilings for these two later years take into account demographic pressures arising in the Departments of Health, Social Protection and Education and Skills. Also taken into consideration in these ceilings is the roll-out of the Rural Development Programme, a forecast reduction in the number of people on the Live Register, the carry-over impact of certain Budget 2016 measures including costs relating to the Lansdowne Road Agreement and the revised capital envelope set out in the Capital Plan.

Actual expenditure beyond 2016 will ultimately be a matter for Government decision-making, in light of the fiscal space determined in line with the Stability and Growth Pact obligations at the time and its allocation between tax and expenditure measures as determined by Government.