Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Jan 1996

Vol. 460 No. 3

Written Answers. - Reductions in Expenditure.

Noel Dempsey

Question:

240 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment the services which will be affected by the 22 per cent reduction in incidental expenses in the 1996 Estimates, the 84 per cent reduction in Subhead C4, the 60 per cent reduction in Subhead F3, the 39 per cent reduction in Subhead F5 and the 62 per cent reduction in Subhead F13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19260/95]

Colm M. Hilliard

Question:

244 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for the Environment the reason for the reduction of 84 per cent in Subhead C4 of Vote 25 in the 1996 Estimates. [19318/96]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 and 244 together.

The year on year percentage changes set out in the abridged version of the 1996 Estimates for Public Services are complied using 1995 and 1996 Estimates provisions. The percentage change will, in many cases, be different in the revised Estimates for the public service which will compute the change using outturn figures in 1995. Subhead A.3 is an administrative budget Subhead, and funds a range of services including cleaning and security for the Department's offices, advertising, environmental promotion and staff training. Ongoing efficiency and other measures should ensure that the 1996 Estimate provision will suffice to meet anticipated demands.

Expenditure on miscellaneous roads related services (including recoupment of expenses incurred in vehicle and driver licensing, vehicle testing etc., costs associated with the development of the national vehicle file, and a grant to the medical bureau of road safety) are accounted for under Subhead C.4. The reduction in the subhead provision is due almost entirely to the introduction of revised arrangements which will allow the expenses of licensing authorities in relation to the licensing of vehicles etc. to be met by way of reduction from the motor tax collected locally.

Subhead F.3 funds a once-off scheme of grants to local authorities and other bodies for improving access for people with disabilities to public parks and other outdoor recreational facilities which lack such access at present. Expenditure on the scheme is declining as outstanding commitments are met.

Subhead F.5 is used to pay subsidies to local authorities towards loan charges in respect of the provision of certain capital services including housing, water and sewerage services and fire services. The 1996 provision shall be sufficient to meet the anticipated demand for the authorities concerned.

Subhead F.13 is used to defray expenditure on a range of miscellaneous current and capital services. The fact that two non-recurring items grants, to the Sherriff Street Youth Club and the North Wall Womens Centre, arose in 1995 accounts for the reduced provision required in the current year.