Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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461. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide the underspend of each Department in each year since 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17121/23]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Table 1 below outlines the surplus for surrender from each Vote for 2020 and 2021, using figures published by the Comptroller and Auditor General in the annual Appropriation Accounts. This data is published by the C&AG in the Vote Accounting and Budget Management chapter of the annual Report on the Accounts of the Public Services.  

For 2020 and 2021 the surplus for surrender represented approximately 3 and 2 per cent respectively of total Government expenditure in that year. Underspends compared to the total amount of spending allocated can arise for a variety of reasons, such as lower than expected uptake on schemes or delivery at lower than budgeted for costs.  For 2020 and 2021, both the restrictions and the required response to the Covid-19 pandemic had an impact on Department’s spending plans. 

Appropriation Accounts for 2022 are currently being prepared. Table 2 shows the end- December 2022 Fiscal Monitor published by the Department of Finance. This reports expenditure by Ministerial Vote Group including a comparison of estimated expenditure incurred against amount allocated. These include €687 million which is carried forward to 2023 under the capital carryover facility. Following completion of audits by the Comptroller and Auditor General, the final Appropriation Account figures will be available, including surplus to surrender. 

My Department continues to monitor spending by Departments against profiled plans for 2023 and monthly figures will be published in the Fiscal Monitor throughout the year.

Table 1: Surplus for Surrender 2020 and 2021

Table 2: End December 2022 Issues – Gross Voted Expenditure Variance from Profile

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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462. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline the total non-core expenditure that has not yet been allocated and remains in reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17122/23]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Since 2020 considerable policy challenges have arisen due to the impact of Covid-19, Brexit and the war in Ukraine. The approach of allocating non-core or temporary funding to respond to external challenges facilitates responsive fiscal policy providing supports to deal with key emerging issues while protecting core or permanent day-to-day expenditure and investment.

The Revised Estimates 2023 set out €5.2 billion in non-core funding. At the end of March 2023 approximately €4.1 billion of non-core funding has been allocated to Departments. This includes allocations of €1.6 billion for Ukraine related supports; €1.5 billion for Covid related supports including National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP); €0.7 billion for Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) and €0.4 billion for Brexit and other non-core pressures. These allocations leave approximately €1.1 billion in non-core funding for further allocations throughout 2023 if required.

Table: Non-Core Funding 2023

*Rounding affects totals