Colm M. Hilliard
Question:113 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the figure of £2,615,000 under Subhead A5 of Vote 2 in the 1996 Estimates. [19333/96]
Written Answers. - 1996 Estimates.
The following is a detailed breakdown of the provision under subhead A5 of the Vote for the Houses of the Oireachtas and the European Parliament:
Office Machinery and Other Office Supplies.
|
£ |
|
|
1. Purchase, rental and maintenance of |
|
|
(i) Computer and data preparation equipment and related items and training for Members and staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas |
405,000 |
|
(ii) Photocopying equipment, other office machinery and related supplies |
400,000 |
|
2. Printing, binding and stationery services etc. |
1,810,000 |
Colm M. Hilliard
Question:114 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the 60 per cent reduction under Subhead M of Vote 6 in the 1996 Estimates. [19335/96]
In 1995 a global provision of £10 million was provided under subhead M of the Finance Vote. This provision covered the total 1995 requirements of the various Departments involved in the programme. The 1996 provision on the Finance Vote reflects only that proportion of funding which is required by the Department of Finance to fund its own elements of the programme. The amounts required by other Departments in 1996 are included in their respective Votes.
Colm M. Hilliard
Question:115 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the 115 per cent increase under Subhead A3 of Vote 2 in the 1996 Estimates. [19336/96]
The increase from £300,000 to £644,000 under subhead A3 of the Vote for the Houses of the Oireachtas and the European Parliament is attributable to two factors:
(1) a provision of £275,000 to cover the hosting of three conferences arising from Ireland's Presidency of the EU viz. Conferences of European Affairs Committees (COSAC), Foreign Affairs Committees and Speakers of EU Parliaments; and
(2) an increase of £69,000 in the budget for the public relations service (a further £100,000 is provided for this service for printing costs in subhead A5).
Colm M. Hilliard
Question:116 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Finance the projects that will receive funding from the £3.5 million under Subhead L2 of Vote 10 in the 1996 Estimates. [19337/96]
The £3.5 million allocation in subhead L2 of Vote 10 for the Office of Public Works will meet the costs of outstanding claims for compensation or other expenditure that may arise in respect of completed drainage schemes. It will also provide for costs arising during 1996 of works for alleviation of localised flooding in Carlow Town; Cappamore, County Limerick/Newport, County Tipperary; Duleek, County Meath; Dunmanway, County Cork; Gort Town, County Galway; Kilkenny City; Sixmilebridge, County Clare and Williamstown, County Galway, all of which are currently at design stage. These works are of course dependent on the necessary schemes proving feasible from an economic and environmental point of view.
Colm M. Hilliard
Question:117 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Finance the projects that will receive funding from the £1 million under Subhead L1 of Vote 10 in the 1996 Estimates. [19338/96]
The £1 million allocation in subhead L1 of Vote 10 for the Office of Public Works will provide for the continuation of the hydrometric programme, viz. the installation, maintenance and operation of gauges, meters, etc., for ascertaining the extent and velocity of river flows. This information is used in the preparation of drainage and flood relief schemes and will enable the investigations — engineering, environmental, economic and others — required in connection with the preparation of designs for flood relief schemes for Carlow Town, Cappamore, County Limerick/Newport, County Tipperary; Duleek, County Meath; Dunmanway, County Cork; Gort Town, County Galway; Kilkenny City; Sixmilebridge, County Clare and Williamstown, County Galway, to be brought to conclusion so that decisions can be made in relation to these particular schemes. It also provides for the continuation of the major multi-disciplinary investigation into the causes of flooding in the Gort-Ardrahan area of South Galway, which was commenced in 1995.
Colm M. Hilliard
Question:118 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the 93 per cent increase under Vote 12 in the 1996 Estimates. [19339/96]
It is not the practice to divulge information relating to this Vote.
Colm M. Hilliard
Question:119 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the increase of 143 per cent under Subhead C of Vote 14 in the 1996 Estimates. [19340/96]
Costs awarded against the State arising out of judicial review and other legal proceedings are paid from this subhead. In many cases, the final sum is determined by the Taxing Master.
It is extremely difficult to estimate the amount required to meet outgoings under this subhead in any given year as there are several variable factors involved: such as the number and complexity of cases in which costs are awarded and the point of time when the bill of costs is presented for payment. The increase is attributable to the fact that it is expected that a number of large bills will be presented for payment in 1996.
Colm M. Hilliard
Question:120 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the decrease under Subheads A2, A4, A5, A7 and A8 of Vote 16 in the 1996 Estimates. [19341/96]
The decrease in the estimates for 1996 under subheads A2, A4, A7 and A8 relates mainly to an expected downturn in activity in the Civil Service Commission following the completion of major recruitment programmes for clerical staff and Garda trainees, initiated in 1994, which continued during 1995.
In addition there is one less national daily newspaper on the market, which has the effect of further reducing expenditure under subhead A8.
The decrease in subhead A5 is in line with an agreed information technology expenditure programme.