Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

43. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of pre-budget submissions his Department received on budget 2017; the number of organisations met with by departmental officials following their submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30990/16]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

44. To ask the Minister for Finance the procedure his Department follows when engaging with organisations once a formal pre-budget submission is made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30991/16]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 44 together.

My Department received in excess of 400 Pre-Budget Submissions relating to Budget 2017 from a wide variety of groups, representative organisations and individuals.

Once a submission is received it is acknowledged by my officials and then passed to the relevant area of my Department for consideration in the context of the Budget and Finance Bill.

While my officials met with more than twenty organisations in the run-up to the Budget it is important to understand that there is no direct correlation between sending in a submission and requesting or having a meeting. Not all submissions received requested a meeting with departmental officials  and some meetings which took place did not originate by means of a submission. My Department places a high priority on ongoing engagement with stakeholders and officials are always willing to consider any requests for meetings. However the Deputy will understand  that it is not practical for all such requests to be accommodated.