Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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530. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide the documentation between his Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the 2018 Estimates. [41601/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The Estimates of Expenditure 2018 are still being considered by Government in advance of the publication of the Abridged Estimates along with Budget 2018.  In that context, some of the documentation produced by my Department is sensitive and confidential, including documentation between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

However, I would note that, on Budget Day last year, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced that a review of day-to-day Government spending would take place in advance of Budget 2018. The 2017 Spending Review is the first in a series of rolling selective reviews, which will cover the totality of Government spending over a three year period to 2019.  The results of the first year of this new approach were published with Mid-Year Expenditure Review and can be found on the www.per.gov.iesite.  My Department has also provided a comprehensive and prioritised analysis of capital expenditure needs in the areas for which I have responsibility.  This analysis was provided in the submission on the mid-term review of the Capital Plan earlier this year, which can be found on that site also, and in subsequent submissions to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in the context of the 2018 Estimates.

Clearly as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I will endeavour to achieve the greatest level of funding to support continued and necessary investment. However, I am conscious that all members of Government should be prudent and operate within the State's existing financial constraints.  Of course I also need to balance considerations like the need to spend in order to maintain the integrity of our transport infrastructure. Such maintenance expenditure is in itself an example of prudent financial management.  

Details of my Department's allocations for 2018 will be available once the Budget is announced.