Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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775. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide the standard breakdown that is provided every year between "Budgetary Measures" and "To be Allocated" of the Government spending package outlined in the summer economic statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43733/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Summer Economic Statement (SES) was published on 22nd July. This document sets out the Governments overall fiscal parameters for Budget 2026. As outlined in the SES, an overall budgetary package of €9.4 billion has been agreed for Budget 2026. This comprises €7.9 billion in expenditure measures and €1.5 billion in taxation measures, reflecting our continued commitment to sustainable investment and improving public services.

The approach taken in this year's SES to the breakdown of the Government spending package has been undertaken in the context of the work developed by my Department in the preparation of a new Medium Term Expenditure Framework. The revised approach emphasises the importance of delivering value for money. Departments are being asked to consider the totality of their existing allocation with a view to delivering policies and services as efficiently as possible. In 2026, the total gross expenditure ceiling will reach €116.6 billion. This level of uplift provides for increased allocations across key public services and investment priorities, in line with the Government’s policy objectives. These resources will support sectors including housing, health, education, transport, and climate. Further details will be included in the Expenditure Report to be published on Budget day.

There are a range of expenditure drivers when considering the cost of service provision. €5.9 billion of the €7.9 billion increase in expenditure will be for current expenditure. It will allow for continued growth in service delivery while also reinforcing the adequacy of public services through:

• Sustaining the high levels of adequacy within the social welfare system;
• Continued investment within the health sector;
• Growth of staffing levels within the public sector workforce to maintain and enhance the delivery of public services, taking account of the staffing requirements of policies to achieve policy outcomes.

Alongside the SES, the Government also published the National Development Plan Review 2025 last week. This review sets out a revised capital investment framework totalling €275.4 billion over the period 2026 to 2035, the largest ever capital investment in the history of the state. That investment will be delivered through exchequer funding, the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund, and other non-exchequer sources, with a strong focus on deliverability and regional balance.

Officials in my Department continue to work with other Departments to finalise departmental allocation figures, which will be communicated through the Expenditure Report on Budget Day, 7th October 2025.