Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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176. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there are plans to introduce a system of real-time oversight of public spending, in order that overspends and budgetary issues can be monitored between the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5444/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has responsibility for developing and monitoring overall expenditure policy in line with Government objectives and agreed fiscal strategy. This is done through a number of means across the year, including at regular monthly and quarterly intervals.

Every month spending figures are published in the Fiscal Monitor. This is published by the Department of Finance and can be found on their website1. The Fiscal Monitor provides information on the drawdown of funds by each Department compared to profiles of expected spending levels and against the same period the previous year. These figures demonstrate any developing risks that require continued and enhanced expenditure management across the remainder of the year.

There is also regular reporting to Government on expenditure matters, from my Department and others through quarterly memos. Key publications throughout the year as part of the whole of year budgetary process have also provided information on the spending position. These include the Stability Programme Update, Summer Economic Statement and Mid-Year Expenditure Report.

My Department has ongoing engagement with Departments and Agencies across Government on expenditure matters. Public expenditure management and achieving value for money, within agreed Ceilings voted by Dáil Éireann, is a key responsibility of every Department and Minister and my Department is in contact with spending Votes to monitor and review expenditure trends.

Guidance and information on the operation of our financial framework are also provided by my Department, through publications such as the Public Financial Procedures and Infrastructure Guidelines.

My Department will continue to monitor and develop our budgetary framework and reporting systems to ensure key risks continue to be highlighted in publications and to Government in a timely manner.

www.gov.ie/en/collection/4bbaa-the-latest-fiscal-monitors/

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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177. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will share the priority matrix or other details of a mechanism of how capital projects will be selected and prioritised under the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5445/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government has emphasised the delivery of essential infrastructure as a key driver in attracting and retaining investment in Ireland, growing our economy, fostering regional development, delivering on our housing targets and achieving our ambitious climate goals.

A key commitment of the Programme for Government is to prioritise an early review of the National Development Plan, which will be completed in July 2025. The review is intended to include all proposed Exchequer capital investment priorities for the lifetime of this Government and will seek to allocate the full resources of the Apple Escrow Account, the existing commitments from AIB share sales and the distribution of the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund prior to 2030.

To meet the timeline for the Review, officials in my Department have commenced work on developing its priorities. This work is at a very early stage and will be developed further in the near term. The initial work is drawing on existing frameworks and analyses, such as:

• ongoing capital expenditure monitoring frameworks,
• Infrastructure delivery oversight mechanisms, such as the Project Ireland Delivery Board and the Major Projects Advisory Group;
• the Framework for the Use of the Escrow Receipts, published as part of Budget 2025; and
• the Economic and Social Research Institute's review of National Development Plan priorities and capacity, published in January 2024.