Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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215. To ask the Minister for Finance 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. [36746/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department’s expenditure at the end of June was under profile by approximately €5m. The main reasons for this variance versus profile are underspends across administrative subheads. These include €0.5m on salary costs due to recruitment, which will take place later in the year than initially expected.

Capital expenditure was under profile by €1.1m as certain office premises projects, which were expected to start in the first quarter of 2017, will now not begin until later in the year. While there was an underspend of €1.9m on consultancies and other services, increased spend is expected in this category during the third quarter. Fuel Grant payments administered by my department are also €1.1m under profile.

As regards the projected outturn for the year, it is difficult to assess the full year expenditure for the Department at this stage as we are only just over half way through the year.

My Department keeps expenditure trends under review and provides details on monthly Exchequer Issues to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. These are reported in the Expenditure Reports published with the monthly Exchequer Statement.

As the year progresses, my Department will continue to manage expenditure within the allocation agreed by the Dáil in the 2017 Estimates in order to deliver my Department’s agreed objectives.