asked the Taoiseach the provision in respect of post office services for (a) 1979 and (b) 1980 in relation to each Vote for which he is responsible; the amount of the variation between each year and the reasons for such variation.
Written Answers. - Post Office Services.
181.
Following is the information sought:
Amount of Provision:
1. Vote No. 3:
Department of the Taoiseach:
|
(a) 1979: |
£34,000 |
|
(b) 1980: |
£43,000 |
2. Vote No. 4:
Central Statistics Office:
|
(a) 1979: |
£89,000 |
|
(b) 1980: |
£117,000 |
Amount of Variation:
Department of the Taoiseach: £9,000 increase.
Central Statistics Office: £28,000 increase.
Generally the increases in the provisions are due to higher post office charges, to the cost of installing more telephone equipment in the Department of the Taoiseach and to a credit adjustment arising from an over-estimation in a previous year.
182.
asked the Minister for Energy the provision in respect of post office services for (a) 1979 and (b) 1980 in relation to each Vote for which he is responsible; the amount of the Varation between each year and the reasons for such Varation.
My Department formed part of the Department of Industry, Commerce and Energy in 1979 and the provision for that year was, therefore, a portion of the provision for that Department; a proportional provision for the functions now transferred to my Department would have been of the order of £43,000. The provision for my Department for 1980 is £44,000. The increase for 1980 is due mainly to provision for higher telephone costs.
183.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the provision in respect of post office services for (a) 1979 and (b) 1980 in relation to each Vote for which he is responsible; the amount of the variation between each year and the reasons for such variation.
The provision for 1979 was £300,000 and is £240,000 for 1980. The reduction of £60,000 in 1980 arose because a special provision was required for our Presidency of the European Communities in the second half of 1979 which did not have to be repeated in 1980.
184.
asked the Minister for Defence the provision in respect of post office services for (a) 1979 and (b) 1980 in relation to each Vote for which he is responsible; the amount of the variation between each year and the reasons for such variation.
The information requested is as follows:—
|
1979 |
1980 |
Variation |
|
|
Defence |
£819,000 |
£748,000 |
£71,000 (—) |
|
Army Pensions |
£ 27,000 |
£ 27,000 |
— |
The reduction of £71,000 in the Defence Estimate for 1980 compared with 1979 is due mainly to the inclusion of arrears of £70,000 from 1978 in the provision for 1979 in respect of handling of stores.
185.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism the provision in respect of post office services for (a) 1979 and (b) 1980 in relation to each Vote for which he is responsible; the amount of the variation between each year and the reasons for such variation.
The information sought is as follows:
|
Year |
Total |
Proportion of total relating to energy functions |
Reason for Variation |
|
£ |
£ |
||
|
1979 |
173,000 |
43,000(a) |
The increase for 1980 is due mainly to provision for higher telephone costs. |
|
1980 |
176,000 |
44,000(b) |
Note: (a) Represents the proportion of the total provision which relates to energy functions in 1979 and
(b) the amount of the total being transferred to the new Energy Vote (No. 52) for 1980.
186.
asked the Minister for Justice the provision in respect of post office services for (a) 1979 and (b) 1980 in relation to each vote for which he is responsible; the amount of the variation between each year and the reasons for such variation.
Following is the information for each Vote for which I am responsible:
|
Vote |
Provisions in respect of Post Office Services |
Increase(+)Decrease(-) |
||
|
1979 |
1980 |
|||
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
||
|
Office of the Minister for Justice |
Postal ServicesTelegrams and telephonesMiscellaneous |
38,00063,860140 |
15,00053,850150 |
-23,000-10,010+10 |
|
Total |
102,000 |
69,000 |
-33,000 |
|
|
Garda Síochána |
Postal ServicesTelegrams and telephonesTeleprinter serviceHandling of storesMiscellaneous |
364,000660,00040,000177,0009,000 |
122,000844,70048,000150,0007,300 |
-242,000+184,700+8,000-27,000-1,700 |
|
Total |
1,250,000 |
1,172,000 |
-78,000 |
|
|
Prisons |
Postal ServicesTelegrams and telephonesMiscellaneous |
15,00030,000— |
6,00036,0009,000 |
-9,000+6,000+9,000 |
|
Total |
45,000 |
51,000 |
+6,000 |
|
|
Courts |
Postal Services Telegrams and telephones Miscellaneous Total |
94,00054,94060 |
6,00069,92080 |
-88,000+14,980+20 |
|
Total |
149,000 |
76,000 |
-73,000 |
|
|
Land Registry and Registry of Deeds |
Postal Services Telephones Miscellaneous Total |
38,000 41,965 35 |
31,00023,96040 |
-7,00018,005+5 |
|
Total |
80,000 |
55,000 |
25,000 |
|
|
Charitable Donations and Bequests |
Postal ServicesTelegrams and telephones |
2,5301,470 |
3,0351,675 |
+505+205 |
|
Total |
4,000 |
4,710 |
+710 |
The estimates for telephones, telegrams and teleprinter services are prepared by my Department, and the estimates for all other items are supplied to my Department by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. With regard to the variations between the 1979 and the 1980 provisions for telephones, telegrams and teleprinter services, the estimates for each of these years were based on the latest available information in regard to actual expenditure levels on those items and the figures for 1980 took into account the increased charges which operate with effect from 1 October 1979. As regards the variations in the items estimated by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, it is understood from that Department that the figures for 1980 were based on the latest information available in regard to usage levels of these services and took into account appropriate adjustments by way of credit or debit allowance in respect of previous variations between estimated and actual cost.
187.
asked the Minister for Finance the provision in respect of post office services for (a) 1979 and (b) 1980 in relation to each Vote for which he is responsible; the amount of the variation between each year and the reasons for such variation.
The information in relation to the Votes for which the Minister for Finance is directly responsible is set out below.
|
1979 |
1980 |
Variation |
||
|
Vote |
Provision |
Provision |
Increase |
Decrease |
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
|
President's Establishment |
7,800 |
8,000 |
200 |
|
|
Houses of the Oireachtas |
303,696 |
417,330 |
113,634 |
|
|
Office of the Minister for Finance |
994,000 |
1,099,500 |
105,500 |
|
|
Comptroller and Auditor General |
4,000 |
4,000 |
||
|
Office of the Revenue Commissioners |
2,550,000 |
3,229,830 |
679,830 |
|
|
Public Works and Buildings |
198,000 |
197,000 |
1,000 |
|
|
State Laboratory |
5,700 |
5,500 |
200 |
|
|
Office of the Attorney General |
16,000 |
14,000 |
2,000 |
|
|
Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions |
4,000 |
4,200 |
200 |
|
|
Stationery Office |
75,000 |
70,000 |
5,000 |
|
|
Valuation and Ordnance Survey |
36,000 |
37,800 |
1,800 |
In general, the increases arise from increased post office charges in 1979 and an expected increase in the use of the telephone service in 1980. Where decreases are shown these result from credit adjustments arising from overestimations in previous years of the cost of providing postal services.
188.
asked the Minister for the Environment the provision in respect of post office services for (a) 1979 and (b) 1980 in relation to each Vote for which he is responsible; the amount of the variation between each year and the reasons for such variation.
The provision for post office services in the Vote for the Environment in 1980 is £212,000. In 1979 the provision was £200,000 which included £38,000 provided by way of a Supplementary Estimate. The increase in 1980 reflects both increased usage of the services and the full year effect of higher charges implemented in the latter part of 1979.
189.
asked the Minister for Labour the provision in respect of post office services for (a) 1979 and (b) 1980 in relation to each Vote for which he is responsible; the amount of the variation between each year and the reasons for such variation.
The information sought by the Deputy is as follows:
Provision for Post Office Services
|
£ |
|
|
1979 |
133,000 |
|
1980 |
172,000 |
|
Increase |
39,000 |
The variation is due mainly to (1) increased charges for postal services and (2) a reduction in charges following the abolition in 1973 of weekly redundancy payments which had in certain instances been paid through post offices.
190.
asked the Minister for the Public Services the provision in respect of post office services for (a) 1979 and (b) 1980 in relation to each Vote for which he is responsible; the amount of the variation between each year and the reasons for such variation.
The information requested by the Deputy is as follows:
Vote 18—Office of the Minister for the Public Service.
The provision for post office services in this Vote was £64,000 in 1979 and £75,000 in 1980. The variation of £11,000 is due to increase in salaries and other costs in providing post office services.
Vote 19—Civil Service Commission.
The provision for the post office services in this Vote was £120,000 in 1979 and £86,000 in 1980. The variation of £34,000 is due to a credit of £28,000 which accured in 1978 being taken into account in determining the 1980 provision and to an expected decrease in the volume of post office services required.
Vote 20—Superannuation and Retired Allowances, Vote for Remuneration.
There is no provision made for post office services in either of these Votes.
191.
asked the Minister for Education the provision in respect of post office services for (a) 1979 and (b) 1980 in relation to each Vote for which he is responsible; the amount of the variation between each year and the reasons for such variation.
Following is the information:
Vote for the Office of the Minister for Education—
Provision for payments for post office services in respect of the administration of the Votes for the Office of the Minister for Education, primary education, secondary education, vocational education, residential homes and special schools and higher education is not made separately under these Votes, but is included in the Vote for the Office of the Minister for Education.
The amounts for the years in question were: 1979, £435,000; 1980, £560,000. Increase £125,000.
The increase is in respect of postal charges and is due to an estimated undercharge of £70,000 by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs in 1979, increased traffic and increased postal charges.
Vote for the National Gallery—
1979, £2,500; 1980, £2,700. Increase of £200—due to increased charges.
192.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the provision in respect of post office services for (a) 1979 and (b) 1980 in relation to each Vote for which he is responsible; the amount of the variation between each year and the reason for such variation.
Following are the estimates of the cost of post office services as contained in the annual Estimates for my Department's two votes:
|
1979 |
1980 |
Variation |
|
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
|
Vote for Agriculture |
1,218,000 |
1,008,000 |
210,000 |
|
Vote for Lands |
335,000 |
291,000 |
44,000 |
The reduced amounts shown in the Estimates for 1980 include adjustments to take account of over-payments in 1979 made to the Department of Posts and Telegraphs which arose from a reduction in traffic due to the postal dispute which could not be foreseen when the Estimates for 1979 were being drawn up.
193.
asked the Minister for the Gaeltacht the provision in respect of post office services for (a) 1979 and (b) 1980 in relation to each Vote for which she is responsible; the amount of the variation between each year and the reasons for such variation.
Is é £20,000 an soláthar i Vóta mo Roinne do na seirbhísí sin i 1979 agus i 1980.
194.
asked the Minister for Health the provision in respect of post office services for (a) 1979 and (b) 1980 in relation to each Vote for which he is responsible; the amount of the variation between each year and the reasons for such variation.
A provision of £96,000 was made for post office services in subhead B.3 of the Health Vote for 1979. The provision in the 1980 Estimates is £93,000. The variation of £3,000 between 1979 and 1980 arises from the allowing of a net credit by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs in respect of certain services not provided in 1979.
195.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the provision in respect of post office services for (a) 1979 and (b) 1980 in relation to each Vote for which he is responsible; the amount of the variation between each year and the reasons for such variation.
The provision in the Social Welfare Vote for post office services was £5.460 million for 1979 and is £5.530 million for 1980. The increase of £70,000 in 1980 over 1979 is due to higher post office charges.
196.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the provision in respect of post office services for (a) 1979 and (b) 1980 in relation to each Vote for which he is responsible; the amount of the variation between each year and the reasons for such variation.
The cost of post office services in 1979 (a) and the provision for 1980 (b) are as follows:
|
Vote |
(a)1979 |
(b)1980 |
Variation |
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
|
Forestry |
196,800 |
201,200 |
4,400 increase |
|
Fisheries |
32,200 |
42,000 |
9,800 increase |
The figures include costs of postage, telephone and telegrams and handling of stores. The increased costs arise mainly from increased use and increased charges for postal services. The provisions for handling of stores are based on estimates supplied by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. In the case of the Fisheries Vote the charge under this head in 1980 included a debit adjustment from a previous period.
197.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the provisions in respect of post office services for (a) 1979 and (b) 1980 in relation to each Vote for which he is responsible; the amount of the variation between each year and the reasons for such variation.
The cost of services which my Department render to themselves are not recorded or provided for separately in the Vote for Posts and Telegraphs. The accounting work required to produce meaningful figures would not be warranted.
198.
asked the Minister for Transport the provision in respect of post office services for (a) 1979 and (b) 1980 in relation to each Vote for which he is responsible; the amount of the variation between each year and the reasons for such variation.
The provision for post office services in the vote for my Depart ment for 1979 was £638,000. The corresponding provision for 1980 is £646,000. This represents an increase of £8,000 or 1.25%, which is not a significant increase in the context of the total expenditure involved.