Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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455. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the expenditure savings that are earmarked for his Department for 2018 that are not accounted for in the mid-year expenditure report or are not included in the fiscal space calculations for 2018. [38900/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Mid-Year Expenditure Report published in July, sets out the Pre-Budget Ceiling of €8,901 million current and €717 million capital for the Department of Education and Skills for 2018. The amount included in this ceiling reflects certain demographic pressures arising in the Education Sector.

As outlined in the Mid-Year Expenditure Report, the increases planned in expenditure for the delivery of public services are set at sustainable levels in order to ensure that the resources allocated are affordable both now and in the future. Consequently, it is important that there is an ongoing focus on the totality of Departmental spending and not just the incremental increase each year.

As part of the Estimates process the Department considers expenditure on existing services alongside proposals for new expenditure measures. Any savings relating to the cost of existing services identified during this process can be used to meet any emerging expenditure pressures without impacting on the available fiscal space. Work is ongoing in this regard.