Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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348. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of times funding was moved across budget lines within his Department in a process known as virement; the name and purpose of the fund the money was taken from; the name and purpose of the fund the money was transferred to; the dates upon which he approved of such transfers, since he took office; if the Department of Public Expenditure was consulted prior to the transfer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12274/23]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Virement of funding between subheads within a Vote is provided for in the Public Financial Procedures and is typically used to meet expenditure pressures in one subhead through savings in another, subject to the approval of the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.

There are five Votes within my Department, of which three required a virement for 2022. Virement was sought by each individual Vote from the relevant section of the Department and was formally approved for the three Votes on 16 March, 2023.

The Department’s Vote had a total virement of €1.189 million for 2022, which constitutes 2.4% of the gross estimate for the year 2022 of €49.43 million. The most significant virement was for pensions for bodies under the aegis of the Department (€355,014), which was required as it is challenging for these bodies to accurately estimate pensions and lump sums given staff may retire with 30 days’ notice. A further virement of €323,608 was made to Asset and Equipment Expenses and was mainly utilised to pay for the development and enhancement of EU systems, which will support the timely drawdown of EU funds. The remaining virements were for smaller sums and a number were the result of an internal reorganisation of the Department during 2022.

TheOffice of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) Vote had a total virement of €0.739 million, which constitutes 1.7% of the gross estimate for 2022 of €43.47 million. This was mainly to supplement its teams with contractors while vacancies were filled and ensured that the OGCIO had continuing capability and capacity to deliver its ICT services.

The Superannuation and Retired Allowances Vote had a total virement of €1.127 million, which constitutes 0.14% of the gross estimate for 2022 of €707.62 million. This was needed due to a higher number of pension payments than forecast from the Civil Service Spouses' and Children's Contributory Pension Scheme and in respect of unestablished Civil Servants.

The full detail requested by the Deputy is set out in the tables below.

Vote 11 – Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform (2022 Virements)

Vote 43 - Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (2022 Virements)

Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (2022 Virements)