Vol. 454 No. 6
12 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the activities within his Department which will be affected by the Government's decision to cut public expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11360/95]
In accordance with the Government's decision to cut public expenditure in 1996, my Department has identified a number of areas in which it would hope to make savings. These areas will be the subject of discussion with the Department of Finance. As these discussions have not yet been completed, it is not possible to provide details of activities which may be affected by expenditure cuts.
What is the amount the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry has been asked to contribute to these cuts?
It is approximately 0.7 per cent of current spending so it would amount to approximately £3 million.
In what areas has the Department offered the savings?
We are presenting these areas for discussion to the Department of Finance today. They will have to be discussed with the Department before they are made public. This information will be made available to the Deputy as soon as possible. I hope that by next week we will have decided the areas in which cuts will take place but I am not at liberty to give that information now.
I am not asking the Minister of State to say where the cuts are taking place if it is not yet decided. In what areas were the cuts offered?
The cuts offered are those that will be discussed. It would not be right for me to give that information today. It will be made available to the Deputy as soon as it has been agreed with the Department of Finance.
We are aware of where the cuts will be in the Department of Justice, for example. We are told it involves two prisons. Why can we not be given the same information in relation to other Departments? How much does 0.7 per cent amount to in cash?
I have already told the Deputy that it amounts to approximately £3 million. The cuts will not be in the Community Support Framework area and they will not involve capital expenditure. They will mostly involve the current everyday business of the Department but I am not at liberty to tell the Deputy the precise areas in which these cuts will take place because they have not yet been agreed. As soon as that information is available, I will provide it to the Deputy.
The time for priority questions is now exhausted. We will take the final priority questions in the category of ordinary questions. Question No. 13 is in the name of Deputy Cowen.
