Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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57. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if public expenditure projections are on course and likely to remain on course in 2016; to examine areas of vital infrastructure which require extra expenditure; if this expenditure is possible while maintaining prudent management principles and objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12991/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Public expenditure has been managed in line with key fiscal targets over the last number of years. Managing the delivery of public services within budgetary allocations is a key responsibility of each Minister and their Department, and measures are in place to help ensure that our key fiscal targets continue to be met. My Department is in regular communication with all Departments and Offices to ensure that expenditure is being managed within the overall fiscal parameters. The drawdown of funds from the Exchequer is monitored against the published expenditure profiles. There is regular reporting to Government on these matters, and information is published monthly, as part of the Exchequer Statement.

The end-April Exchequer returns show that most Departments continue to manage expenditure within profile. However, these returns provide some indications of areas where there may be some pressures. As outlined in the analysis of Gross Voted Expenditure published with the Exchequer Returns, Health gross current spending was over profile by €78 million (1.7%) at the end of April.

As outlined in the 2016 Stability Programme Update (SPU) it was estimated at that time, on the technical no policy change basis on which the SPU was prepared, that over the course of the year, voted spending pressures amounting to c. ¼ per cent of GDP could materialise. Given the potential upside to the revenue projections it is envisaged that additional spending of this level can be accommodated within the fiscal rules.

In relation to investment in infrastructure, the Programme for Government commits to protecting the existing capital investment plan published in September 2015. In addition, the Government will look to take advantage of the recent change to the Medium Term Objective, set out in the SPU, to propose a cumulative additional €4 billion in Exchequer capital investment up to 2021. The specific areas to be targeted for additional capital investment will be outlined following the mid-term review of the Capital Plan which, as outlined in the Programme for Government, is expected in mid-2017.