Vol. 556 No. 4
88 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Defence the way in which the spending incurred by his Department to date compares with the amounts allocated in the Book of Estimates; if he expects his Department to come in on target in regard to expenditure; if he anticipates any further cutbacks or adjustments in his Department; the areas in which these will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20505/02]
Expenditure under the Defence Vote in the first nine months of 2002 was €41 million less than the original profile. At this stage the forecast for the year-end is for gross savings of €43.5 million, excesses on a number of subheads of €3.5 million and surplus appropriation-in-aid of €1 million giving overall net savings of €41 million against the Estimate provision. The main areas in which savings will arise are compensation, €14.5 million, Air Corps, €14 million and pay and allowance, €13 million.
