2. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will publish updated spending reviews for each Government Department; the reason for not publishing in advance of budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60444/25]

Sentiment score: 0.01

I ask the Minister about the spending reviews carried out this year that were not published, as had been the practice in previous years. Why were no spending reviews published in the run-up to the budget? How many spending reviews were carried out this year that were not published? Why has the practice of publishing these reviews been abandoned? Does the Minister agree the public has a right to know what is in these reviews? Will he publish all spending reviews that have been carried out? When will he publish them?

Sentiment score: -0.06

Go raibh maith agat, a Aire, but let us focus on spending reviews and 2025, and not all the other things that have happened. The Government has a track record of wasting public money. We need look no further than the bike shed for an example of that. In previous years, spending reviews were published in the run-up to the budget. That did not happen this year. Why not? Why is the Minister suppressing these reports? At the budgetary oversight committee, we were told by the Parliamentary Budget Office that about 50 spending reviews were carried out this year and that these were not published. Some 250 IGEES personnel worked on these spending reviews in every Department. It is a significant amount of work but we have not seen what is in these reviews. The public has a right to know what is in them. When will the Minister publish them? Is there something in these spending reviews the Minister does not want us to see? If not, will he commit now to publishing all spending reviews that have been carried out in 2025?

Sentiment score: -0.06

How many spending reviews were carried out in 2025 that have not been published? That is the nub of my question. That is what I want to know. We have been told at the budgetary oversight committee that in the region of 50 spending reviews across Departments - a very significant body of work - have not been published. Can the Minister tell us how many spending reviews have been carried out this year, how many remain unpublished and when will he publish these spending reviews? They can provide invaluable insight and analysis. There can be huge learnings from them. It is important information is shared with the public and that it is not suppressed. How many spending reviews have been carried out this year that the Minister has not published and when will he publish them?

Sentiment score: 0.13

I am asking the Minister about the spending reviews he has not published.

Sentiment score: 0.00

Will the Minister publish the spending reviews that he has not published?

Sentiment score: 0.00

The Parliamentary Budget Office.

Sentiment score: 0.00