Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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77. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a Department is able to roll over any part of its budget that is not spent during the year to the following year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42380/20]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Section 91 of the Finance Act, 2004 makes statutory provision for capital carryover of unspent capital expenditure allocations by way of deferred surrender.

Government Departments are permitted to carryover up to 10% of their capital expenditure allocations into the following year.  Carryover figures are included in the Appropriation Act at Vote level in the year from which carryover is taking place. 

The carryover amounts by subhead are shown separately in Part I and Part II of the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) for the year into which the carryover is being provided.  The Dáil also approves the carryover as part of its approval of the REV.

To allow for spending of the capital carryover amounts in the following year I, as Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform am also required to make an Order no later than 31 March of that following year determining the capital carryover amounts by subhead, consistent with the amounts included in the Appropriation Act. 

Dáil approval of the draft Ministerial Order is required before the Order can be made.  Once the order is made, the carryover amounts become a first charge against the subheads specified.  If the carryover sums are not spent in the year of carryover, they must be surrendered to the Central Fund.