Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

32. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on public expenditure to date in 2025; if all Departments are within profile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60191/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The latest available expenditure figures, covering the period to end-September, were published in the Fiscal Monitor on the 3rd of October. This release provides detail of the gross and net voted expenditure position to end-September, comparing the drawdown of funds to profiled monthly expenditure and to the corresponding period last year. These are broken down by Vote group and into capital and current spending. The end-October expenditure position will be published on November 5th [later today ], with detail of expenditure year-on-year and against profile by Department to date.

The end-September figures demonstrate sustained high levels of investment in the delivery of public services. Total gross voted expenditure to end-September 2025 amounted to €77.5bn: this was €5.4bn or 7.5% higher than the end-September position in 2024. Current spending at end September was €67.8 billion, an increase of €3.8 billion or 6% on last year while capital spending of €9.7 billion was €1.6 billion or 19.1% higher. This increased investment reflects the priorities of Budget 2025 and this government’s commitment to deliver continued improvements in our infrastructure and enhance our existing public services to build for a stronger future.

At an aggregate level, overall spending of €77.5bn at end-September is slightly above the amount profiled by departments to be spent, with an overspend of 0.2% against profile. While the majority of Vote Groups are under profile at an overall level, overspends compared to profile in certain areas bring the overall position to above planned spend for this point of the year.

In terms of key areas, Education is the most significant over profile area at €0.4bn or 4.2%, driven by current spending on teacher pay and school transport. Health spending of €19 billion is slightly under profiled spend by €91 million or 0.5%, as lower capital spending is offsetting a current overspend of €124 million or 0.7%.Transport is showing a €268 million or 11.6% overspend against profile, with current spend on the PSO and capital spending both over the amount set out to be spent for end September. Social Protection is slightly above profile, at €0.1 billion or 0.5% over.

Government revised the 2025 expenditure ceiling in the Summer Economic Statement in July, given decisions taken in year and known pressures. This increased the funding available in 2025 by €2.3 billion to support delivery of key social and economic priorities, such as further capital investment in key areas such as housing. Allocation of the additional €1 billion in current funding was set out by Department in the Expenditure Report 2026. This funding will be provided in 2025 through Supplementary Estimates.