Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1629. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport 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. [38909/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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This Department has a Capital Budget which is committed to number of programmes and projects including in the areas of  Public Transport, Roads and Sports Capital Programmes. The majority of the projects are on target with some ahead, for example quicker than anticipated completion of the Luas Cross City Project.

We  expect all programmes to come in on profile for 2017 by year end and do not envisage any available funding for return to the central exchequer.

The multi-annual nature of the Capital Projects Programmes, for example Sports Capital, allow for any savings achieved to be reallocated within the programme, on approved  projects awaiting funding.

The Mid-Year Expenditure Report sets out the pre-Budget expenditure ceiling for my Ministerial Vote Group of €680 million for current expenditure and €1281 million for capital expenditure. This represents the spending baseline for examination of my Department's budgetary priorities for 2018.

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.

Earlier in 2017 we have conducted a  Spending Review which will support the consideration of existing expenditure alongside budgetary proposals. If any savings are identified during the Estimates process they can be used to meet any emerging expenditure pressures without impacting on the available fiscal space. Work is ongoing in this regard.

In this overall context, there are no such savings earmarked or included in calculations for 2018 for this Department.