Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1755. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there will be an underspend in his Department's current or capital budget for 2017; if so, the subheads that are now below profile and those that may come in below profile at the end of the calendar year; if underspends in his Department will be available to the central Exchequer at year end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36743/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The total gross budget allocation for the Defence and Army Pension Votes in 2017 is over €921m, of which some €74m is allocated for capital expenditure purposes. This allocation provides for the pay and allowances of the Defence Forces and civil servants and civilian employees in the Defence Sector, ongoing standing and operational costs of the Defence Forces and also facilitates essential investment in equipment and infrastructure. It also provides for the payment of pension entitlements to former members of the Defence Forces as well as funding for Civil Defence and a grant towards the running costs of the Irish Red Cross. At this stage, projections are that the Estimate Provision for 2017 will be fully expended by year-end. My Department will continue to keep expenditure trends under review and provide monthly expenditure reports to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.