Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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161. To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding the rainy day fund, as provided for in the summer economic statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38034/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government outlined its position in relation to the rainy day fund (RDF) in the 2017 Summer Economic Statement (SES) which was published in July. The planned contribution to the RDF is now €500 million per annum, beginning in 2019 (on the assumption that the medium term objective is achieved next year). This is down from the €1 billion provisionally set out in the 2016 SES.

I will in due course be sending a consultation paper to the Oireachtas, seeking its views on a number of issues, such as the appropriate size of the fund, replenishment and, of course, the permitted uses of the fund.