Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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62. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the levels of Government expenditure, including tax expenditure, consequent on the proposed implementation of the programme for Government in 2016 and 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12977/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for a Partnership Government sets out the ambition to build a strong economy and to deliver a fair society. The Programme identifies a number of policy challenges and for each of these challenges a clear unambiguous high-level ambition is also identified.

As stated in the Programme for every policy challenge, the new Government will ensure that a balance is struck between addressing urgent priorities - utilising the action plan framework set out in the Programme document - and engaging in long-term planning and thinking, so that lasting solutions with broad based support are implemented. In this regard, the Programme for Government sets out certain priorities for the first 100 days of the Government. These priorities include the drawing up and publication of an Action Plan on the housing crisis. The priorities in this key area and any funding requirements in 2016 and 2017 will be addressed in that context.

The need for enhanced engagement by the Oireachtas in the budgetary process is highlighted in the Programme for Government, with a number of specific commitments aimed at ensuring the Oireachtas has a more participatory role in the budget process and can contribute their views to the formulation of budgetary policy.

Having regard to the current stage of the budgetary cycle, the first element of the proposed new approach for 2016 is the publication of the Government's Summer Economic Statement ("SES") in June. This statement will provide an updated assessment of the macro-economic and fiscal prospects. The intention is that the SES would include an updated forecast on the available fiscal space to enable the Oireachtas Committees to conduct fully informed discussions on budgetary priorities for 2017.

As part of the proposed new arrangements in respect of the budget process, it is also proposed that the Government publish a Mid-Year Expenditure Report. It is envisaged that this Report would set out revised end-year outturns for 2016 outlining the impact of any additional expenditure this year on Ministerial Expenditure Ceilings for 2016 and 2017. This, along with the detail on fiscal space provided in the SES, will support Oireachtas consultation and engagement on the costing of specific measures intended to respond to particular Programme for Government priorities. Details in relation to tax issues are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance.