Vol. 574 No. 1
18 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the way in which the spending in his Department to date in 2003 compares with amounts allocated in the Book of Estimates; if his Department will be on target in regard to expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20412/03]
19 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach the way in which the expenditure of his Department in 2003 to date compares with its allocation in the 2003 Estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24774/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 19 together.
Expenditure by my Department to date is on target and it is expected that overall spending in 2003 will remain within the agreed Revised Estimates for the year. Details of expenditure figures to end October 2003, which show the Department's spending to be within budget for the first ten months of the year, are contained in the following table:
Comparison of Expenditure at end October 2003 against Budgeted Profile.
|
Subhead |
2003Revised Estimate€000's |
(End October 2003) |
Budgeted Profile€000's |
Actual Expenditure€000's |
|
|
A1 |
Salaries, Wages and Allowances |
10,462 |
8,832 |
8,549.6 |
|
|
A2 |
Travel and Subsistence |
666 |
526 |
421 |
|
|
A3 |
Incidental Expenses |
973 |
811 |
981 |
|
|
A4 |
Postal and Telecommunications Services |
646 |
538 |
466 |
|
|
A5 |
Office machinery and Other Office Supplies |
1,236 |
1,083 |
1,075.6 |
|
|
A6 |
Office Premises Expenses |
733 |
587 |
325.4 |
|
|
A7 |
Consultancy Services |
243 |
203 |
120.6 |
|
|
A8 |
Information Society–eCabinet and Other Initiatives |
1,672 |
1,596 |
992.9 |
|
|
Total Administrative Budget |
16,595 |
14,176 |
12,932.1 |
||
|
B |
NESC |
697 |
525 |
500.3 |
|
|
C |
Grants under s.2 of the Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust Act |
28 |
28 |
0 |
|
|
D |
Forum for Peace and Reconciliation |
50 |
50 |
46 |
|
|
E |
Commemoration Initiatives |
63 |
63 |
45.6 |
|
|
F |
All Party Committee on the Constitution |
338 |
338 |
248.3 |
|
|
G |
Information Society Commission |
664 |
564 |
433.7 |
|
|
H |
National Centre for Partnership and Performance |
860 |
666 |
647.1 |
|
|
I |
National Economic and Social Forum |
669 |
669 |
465 |
|
|
J |
Tribunal of Inquiry (Dunnes Payments) |
251 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
K |
Tribuntal of Inquiry (Payments to Messrs. Haughey and Lowry) |
3,664 |
3,007 |
2,814.5 |
|
|
M |
Independent Commission of Inquiry |
416 |
416 |
626.3 |
|
|
N |
National Economic and Social Development Office |
641 |
520 |
328.2 |
|
|
O |
National Forum on Europe |
922 |
800 |
808.7 |
|
|
Gross Total |
25,858 |
21,822 |
19,895.8 |
||
|
P |
Appropriations-in-Aid |
50 |
41 |
147.9 |
|
|
Net Total |
25,808 |
21,781 |
19,747.9 |
It is interesting to hear the Taoiseach say that everything is on track and appears fine when people wonder why they were promised in writing that there would be capital investment in various schools such as Ballinasloe's Scoil Uí Cheithearnaigh and in hospitals such as the one in Tuam. Is the Taoiseach saying that it is again a case of the poor having to wait? Will he confirm that next year's Estimates will deal with these issues which were promised in writing?
This question refers specifically to the Taoiseach's Department.
Indeed, and the Taoiseach has made his promises.
I cannot accept an omnibus question on Taoiseach's Question Time.
I am asking because the Taoiseach's name is on these promises in letters.
The question refers specifically to the Taoiseach's Department and is the Deputy's own question.
That is why I am asking because I believe the Taoiseach managed to swing the last election based on his credibility.
It does not apply to this question.
It certainly applies to the people I represent.
The Deputy is in the House long enough to know the way to raise matters.
The Taoiseach's name is associated with these issues.
I call Deputy Kenny.
Arising from Question No. 19, what is the employment complement of the Taoiseach's Department at this point, as against the beginning of the year? Will he indicate the cost to his Department next year of the benchmarking scheme?
I understand the number of staff in my Department is 222—
Board of Works jobs.
There is a small adjustment in line with the 4% reduction. In my Department that is a small number. Subject to correction, it is 222 and we have to reduce it by about 12 posts over the period. We have reduced it some of the way this year, and we are on track to comply with the Department of Finance's circular on staffing. The number of staff has been increased in areas of the Department dealing with information technology and other matters. However, there has been an overall reduction and we are in line. I readily admit that the numbers in my Department are small. It is not that difficult for us to achieve staffing targets compared with some of the high-spending Departments.
The two largest cuts imposed in the Estimate for the Department of the Taoiseach last year included one of 50% for consultancy services. I am curious to know if that was enforced. Does the Taoiseach recall why it was so much last year? The second cut of 54% was for the Forum for Europe. This goes back to an earlier question on spending to promote knowledge of the Convention. Does the Taoiseach believe that advocacy of the outcome of or promotion of knowledge about what is contained in the Convention and what is likely to be contained in the new constitution are matters to be addressed after the calendar or financial year? Does he intend that the Government would only seek to promote this knowledge after the Intergovernmental Conference has concluded?
A figure of €800,000 to €900,000 is being spent on the Forum for Europe this year. It reflects a reduction in the enormous number of meetings held last year and in the circulation of the reports and documents compiled. It is still a substantial amount of money. The meetings take place regularly and, as I mentioned, there was the issue of the video. The money is not as much as it was last year because of the enormous printing costs of circulating information prior to the second referendum, but it is substantial and that will continue to the completion of the Intergovernmental Conference, which will confirm what documents will be put to the people. In fairness, the Convention report and the draft constitution have been published. The Revised Estimates for the consultancy service this year was €243,000. Expenditure to the end of October is €203,000 and it is expected that it will come in on target. Most of the consultancy reports prepared in the Department of the Taoiseach are broadly based ones. An amount of work was done in terms of the Green Paper on sustainable development and on research carried out on Newfoundland.
The guaranteed basic income.
Work was carried out on the guaranteed basic income and supplements. Normally research work is done in those areas, it does not relate to other consultancy issues. Sometimes work is done on NESC and other such areas.
