asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will indicate each subhead of each Vote for which he is responsible which is to be increased in the 1981 Estimates by less than 16 per cent and/or the officially expected rate of inflation in 1981; and how economies, if any, are to be made in respect of each such subhead so as to keep within the provision in the subhead.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fisheries and Forestry Estimates.
6.
The detailed subhead information sought by the Deputy can more appropriately be raised when the Estimates for my Department come before the Dáil.
In the meantime I should like to state that the allocations shown in the Book of Estimates conform with the overall allocations decided by the Government and the necessary steps will be taken to ensure that they will not be exceeded.
(Cavan-Monaghan): If they should be exceeded and if a Supplementary Estimate should become necessary, would the Minister bring it in or simply make do with the insufficient allocation?
The thinking now is that the estimates will not be exceeded and it is up to us to do our housekeeping.
Question No. 7.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I have asked only one supplementary question.
I will give the Deputy the opportunity of asking one more, but I wish to remind Deputies that I do not like doing this. We are running close to a record in that fewer than five questions have been answered.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is the Minister satisfied that he will be able to keep within the provisions this year in view of the fact that Supplementary Estimates in the amount of £460 million were necessary last year?
Even though it is hard to be humble, I have every confidence that we will keep within the limits. When something worthwhile happens, as it did last year, we are prepared to bring in a Supplementary Estimate for it.