asked the Minister for Agriculture how he expects to effect each of the following expenditure reductions, for which provision is made in the Book of Estimates: (a) £68,000 for post office services; (b) £18,000 for advertising and publicity; (c) £3,000 for consultancy services; (d) £1.09 million for agricultural schools and farms; (e) £64,000 on the £103,000 expenditure in 1980 scholarships and training; (f) £23,000 on technical assistance; (g) £415,000 on sheep headage grants; (h) £16,000 on the £50,000 expenditure in 1980 on the beef classification scheme and (i) £17.3 million on the farm modernisation scheme; and if any of them will result in a reduction of the level of services provided.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Expenditure Reductions.
18.
The reduced provisions for advertising and publicity, agricultural schools and farms and scholarships and training reflect the extent to which responsibility for the services concerned has been transferred to ACOT. The reduced provision for post office services arose as a result of a refund by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs in respect of services provided in 1979 and from the elimination of arrears resulting from the 1979 postal strike. The provision for consultancy services is sufficient to cover the cost of anticipated assignments in 1981. The technical assistance grants scheme was discontinued as from 11 February 1980 and the reduced provision is in respect of residual payments.
With the introduction of the Common Organisation of the Market for Sheepmeat it is no longer permissible to grant national aids in the sheep sector. The provision for 1981 is intended to cover commitments made prior to the introduction of the Common Organisation of the Market for sheepmeat.
The reduced provision for the beef classification scheme does not entail any reduction in the services; the higher provision in 1980 was required for the purchase of equipment.
Because of a variety of factors expenditure under the farm modernisation scheme reached an unprecedented level in 1980 and necessitated an increased provision of £23 million by way of Supplementary Estimate. It is considered that the current provision will be sufficient to meet applications under the scheme in 1981.
Will the Minister state when the refund was made to his Department by the Post Office?
I do not have the exact date on which the refund was made but I have given the reason.
The reason for my question regarding the date of refund was to see whether it was relevant to include it in the Estimate for 1981. Am I correct in understanding that if the refund is not made in 1981 it should not appear as a saving in the 1981 Estimate but rather as a non-expended departmental balance which is dealt with separately?
I have replied to the question the Deputy put down.
I should like to know when the refund was made because the verity of the Minister's answer depends on that salient fact.
I have not that information before me but I will communicate with the Deputy immediately afterwards.