Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 January 2026
859. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the value of expenditure originally allocated in the Estimates to specific programmes or staffing measures that could not be spent as planned within the year for each of the past five years; and whether such underspends were surrendered, carried forward, or reallocated to other areas within the Vote. [1815/26]
View answerThe annual Estimates allocation for the Department of Finance (Vote 7) for the period 2021 to 2025 is provided in tabular form per programme below.
During the period 2021 to 2023, the Department had two programmes,
• Programme A - Economic and Fiscal Policy
• Programme B - Banking and Financial Services Policy
In 2024, the two programmes were amalgamated into Programme A - Economic, Fiscal, Banking and Financial Services Policy.
The tables present the initial estimate allocation compared to the actual outturn for the period. The figures of the initial estimate and actual outturn for the appropriation in aid and the deferred surrender figures are also provided where applicable.
The surplus to surrender figure is the net effect of the actual outturn, appropriation in aid and deferred surrender for each year.
Each year, the Department of Finance engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and obtained permission to reallocate funds within the various subheads of each programme when necessary. The Department also sought a technical Supplementary Estimate where the reallocation of funds was significant.
The annual allocation and outturn regarding payroll costs per programme are also provided. It should be noted that the programme figures provided are inclusive of the payroll costs.
|
Vote 7 Estimates 2021 |
|
|
|
|
Programme |
Estimate |
Outturn |
Surplus/(Deficit) |
|
|
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
A Economic and Fiscal Policy |
26,076 |
24,014 |
2,062 |
|
B Banking and Financial Services Policy |
14,585 |
12,364 |
2,221 |
|
Appropriation in Aid |
(1,150) |
(1,151) |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Surplus to Surrender |
|
|
4,284 |
2021 Estimate Allocation included in Programmes A and B for Payroll Costs
|
Programme |
Estimate |
Outturn |
Surplus/(Deficit) |
|
|
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
A Economic and Fiscal Policy* |
11,000 |
11,976 |
(976) |
|
B Banking and Financial Services Policy* |
10,000 |
10,168 |
(168) |
*This overspend was due to additional staffing costs resulting from Government Decisions, and was met through virement from within the overall Vote 7 budget.
|
Vote 7 Estimates 2022 |
|
|
|
|
Programme |
Estimate |
Outturn |
Surplus/(Deficit) |
|
|
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
A Economic and Fiscal Policy |
28,202 |
24,985 |
3,217 |
|
A Economic and Fiscal Policy - Deferred Surrender |
|
|
(50) |
|
B Banking and Financial Services Policy |
15,778 |
15,405 |
373 |
|
B Banking and Financial Services Policy - Deferred Surrender |
|
|
(50) |
|
Appropriation in Aid |
(1,080) |
(1,038) |
(42) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Surplus to Surrender |
|
|
3,448 |
2022 Estimate Allocation included in Programmes A and B for Payroll Costs
|
Programme |
Estimate |
Outturn |
Surplus/(Deficit) |
|
|
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
A Economic and Fiscal Policy |
12,451 |
10,258 |
2,193 |
|
B Banking and Financial Services Policy |
11,320 |
12,381 |
(1,061) |
|
Vote 7 Estimates 2023 |
|
|
|
|
Programme |
Estimate |
Outturn |
Surplus/(Deficit) |
|
|
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
A Economic and Fiscal Policy |
26,867 |
24,202 |
2,665 |
|
A Economic and Fiscal Policy - Deferred Surrender |
|
|
(110) |
|
B Banking and Financial Services Policy |
20,548 |
16,884 |
3,664 |
|
Appropriation in Aid |
(910) |
(911) |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Surplus to Surrender |
|
|
6,220 |
2023 Estimate Allocation included in Programmes A and B for Payroll Costs
|
Programme |
Estimate |
Outturn |
Surplus/(Deficit) |
|
|
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
A Economic and Fiscal Policy |
10,891 |
10,645 |
246 |
|
B Banking and Financial Services Policy |
15,514 |
13,716 |
1,798 |
|
Vote 7 Estimates 2024 |
|
|
|
|
Programme |
Estimate |
Outturn |
Surplus/(Deficit) |
|
|
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
A Economic, Fiscal, Banking and Financial Services Policy |
49,004 |
44,924 |
4,080 |
|
A Economic, Fiscal, Banking and Financial Services Policy - Deferred Surrender |
|
|
(110) |
|
Appropriation in Aid |
(6,460) |
(7,537) |
1,077 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Surplus to Surrender |
|
|
5,047 |
2024 Estimate Allocation included in Programme A for Payroll Costs
|
Programme |
Estimate |
Outturn |
Surplus/(Deficit) |
|
|
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
A Economic, Fiscal, Banking and Financial Services Policy |
29,051 |
28,153 |
898 |
|
Vote 7 Estimates 2025 (Provisional Figures) |
|
|
|
|
Programme |
Estimate |
Outturn |
Surplus/(Deficit) |
|
|
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
A Economic, Fiscal, Banking and Financial Services Policy |
51,645 |
50,612 |
1,033 |
|
Appropriation in Aid |
(965) |
(1,296) |
331 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Surplus to Surrender |
|
|
1,364 |
2025 Estimate Allocation included in Programme A for Payroll Costs (Provisional Figures)
|
Programme |
Estimate |
Outturn |
Surplus/(Deficit) |
|
|
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
A Economic, Fiscal, Banking and Financial Services Policy |
30,899 |
30,805 |
94 |
