Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Feb 1995

Vol. 448 No. 6

Written Answers. - Postal and Telecommunications Services.

Hugh Byrne

Question:

212 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will give details of the proposed savings of 13 per cent in postal and telecommunications services by his Department in 1995; if he will publish in tabular form the amount expended under this subhead in each year since 1987 giving the percentage increase in each year over the previous year; the measures, if any, he will implement to allay dissatisfaction of consumers of his Departments' services with its telephone and postal service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2567/95]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

Details of my Department's expenditure on postal and telecommunications services since 1987 are as follows:

Year	£000	Percentage Increase/ Decrease
1987	2,328
1988	2,411	3.57
1989	2,571	6.64
1990	2,947	14.62
1991	2,940	(0.24)
1992	2,755	(.29)
1993	3,316	20.36
1994	4,271	28.80

The 1995 allocation for post and telecommunications is a tentative provision. Under the system of administrative budget allocations, Government Departments can reallocate funds within their overall administrative budgetary provisions to cover day to day expenditures as the need arises. In the course of 1995, appropriate budgetary adjustment under this heading may be required to cover the actual costs arising.