Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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79. To ask the Minister for Finance the projected structural deficit for 2019 if the €800 million available on budget day is spent and if the ESRI's prediction for growth at 8.9% for 2018 compared with his Department's projection of growth of 5.6 % turns out to be true; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40396/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I assume the €800 million the Deputy is referring to is the amount which I stated is available for further allocation in the Summer Economic Statement 2018 (€3.4 billion less €2.6 billion pre-committed). This is already factored into fiscal forecasts and does not change the general government balance.

As the Deputy is aware, Budget 2019 will be published on Tuesday 9th October and my officials are currently engaged in updating the full suite of fiscal and macro-economic forecasts which will be included in the Budget day publications.