Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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133. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he proposes to reinforce the 5% spending rule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29748/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Summer Economic Statement 2021 set out a medium term expenditure strategy for the period to 2025. This strategy aims to align core expenditure growth with the trend growth rate of the economy while unwinding the exceptional Covid-19 spending.

Recent months have seen a number of new challenges emerge across the economy. These developments have changed the context for this year's Summer Economic Statement (SES) with inflation levels elevated above those projected in Budget 2022. This adds complexity to the formulation of our fiscal strategy for 2023.

I am currently engaged in preparing the SES with my colleague the Minister for Finance for publication in the coming weeks. In finalising the budgetary parameters, we will seek to strike a balance between helping to mitigate cost of living pressures, continuing to invest in critical public services and ensuring sustainability of the public finances. Overall we aim to design policy to protect the most vulnerable in our society whilst also seeking to ensure that measures do not add to inflationary pressures.