Public spending controls
Deputy Timmins called for stronger spending and cost controls, distinguishing productive capital investment from inefficient current expenditure. The Taoiseach endorsed focusing on outputs, value for money and taxpayer interests.
I wish to raise the issue of spending control, cost control and improved outputs in various Departments. This issue does not get enough of a hearing in this Chamber. We should not assume spending increases should automatically match economic growth. Often when we spend more, we feed inefficiencies. All increased spending must be matched by improved outputs and all existing spending should be justified. This will automatically lead to better public services.
In terms of overall spending growth, I want to draw a clear distinction between current and capital expenditure. There are parallels between capital spending and a company making investments in, say, equipment, machinery or automation. There are real returns. If the electricity grid, rail network or broadband network is upgraded, the economy will run more efficiently.
Our taxpayers fund this spending; who is speaking up for the taxpayer?
Comment on this
If there was a medal to be awarded for the best contributor of the week, the Deputy would be most deserving of it because he is a lone voice among many voices whose only inclination and focus is on spending more money, calling on Government to keep on spending more money and spend as much as we can. He is the first person in a long time who has stood up and said that public expenditure in itself is not something that we should just in a knee-jerk way or automatically applaud.
Comment on this
We should be very focused on outputs, outcomes, value for money and somebody in here supporting the taxpayer every now and again. I salute that. It is an awful pity the Minister for public expenditure did not hear him because he would feel a bit less lonely in the overall scheme of things than he currently does in keeping a rein on public expenditure. I agree with the Deputy that capital expenditure is an investment in the productive capacity of our economy. It does give yields and economic efficiency, and can help economic growth into the future. That is why the budget focused very much on capital investment this year but also through the national development plan over the next decade.