Departmental Expenditure

Tuesday, 12 May 2026

Questions (1293)

Eoghan Kenny

Question:

1293. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the basis on which the current levy arising from public expenditure overruns is being calculated and applied to his Department’s Vote; whether any categories of expenditure, including pay, pensions or staffing-related costs, are exempt from the levy within his Department; and if he will provide a breakdown of the areas against which the levy is being applied. [35087/26]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht

The Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation wrote to my Department on the 23rd of April with regard to a proposed levy on current expenditure for 2027. The basis on which it was calculated was not set out in the letter, however, it notes that the distribution of the levy has been designed to protect certain areas of expenditure. It also states that it is a matter for each Department to determine how the levy will be applied across their Vote Group.

The letter also notes that this issue will form a key element of the Estimates engagement for Budget 2027, and I have asked my officials to engage on this matter in the context of those negotiations. Managing any levy will, therefore, depend on the outcome of Budget 2027 negotiations.