Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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134. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of additional supplementary estimates required in 2022 following the Budget 2023 announcements; if he will provide a list of each by Department, agency or vote; the estimated amount of funds required for each Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49028/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Supplementary Estimates are expected to be required following Budget 2023 announcements for a number of Votes:

- Some €0.7 billion was held in reserve in Budget 2023 for the 2022 costs of the proposed extension to Building Momentum, including related pension impact. If the extension is ratified, funding will be provided through Supplementary Estimates where it cannot be met within existing allocations. This potentially impacts all Votes with a public service pay or pensions element.

- As part of Budget 2023, Government is providing €2.2 billion worth of additional temporary, targeted cost of living expenditure supports for households. This package comprises €1.2 billion in Electricity Credits for households through the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications; €0.9 billion in additional Social Protection payments; and €0.1 billion in student supports through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

- A Christmas Bonus payment for eligible social protection recipients in December was also announced which will have a cost of €0.3 billion on the Social Protection Vote Group.

- In recognition of the unprecedented rise in energy bills being experienced across the economy, Government also made €340 million available in Budget 2023 to support: Local Authorities; Schools; the Further and Higher Education sector; Health funded bodies; and the cultural, sports, community and voluntary sector.

- A €200 million Ukraine Emergency Response Scheme through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment will provide funding to help firms faced with liquidity shortages as a result of increased energy costs.

- Budget 2023 also provided €30m to the Department of Foreign Affairs for 2022 actions to provide additional humanitarian assistance towards the food security crisis in the Horn of Africa.

As is usual practice the requirement for all Supplementary Estimates will be evaluated, with potential offsetting savings considered. Supplementary Estimates for certain Departments will also reflect additional costs incurred in responding to the war in Ukraine and in providing for the response to Covid-19.