Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 January 2010
960 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the savings outlined in the Report of the Special Group on Public Numbers and Expenditure Programmes which were accepted in budget 2010 for his Department in tabular form; the savings which will be achieved in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1249/10]
View answerThe Vote for my Department has been reduced from a gross outturn of €2.104 billion in 2008 to €1.735 billion in 2010, a reduction of €369 million. The lower 2010 budget provision reflects a combination of factors including lower administration costs, the closure of certain schemes to new applicants, the introduction of lower payment rates, lower levels of funding to discharge outstanding liabilities under existing schemes and lower budget provision for once-off items such as the cost of measures to deal with the dioxin crisis in the pig meat sector.
The position in relation to the main recommendations of the Special Group on Public Numbers and Expenditure Programmes is set out in the following table.
|
Main recommendations |
Current position |
|
Terminate Suckler Cow Scheme |
The rate of payment under the Scheme was reduced from €80 to €40 per eligible animal in the 2009 Budget in October 2008. |
|
Close REPS 4 and no rollover of participants from REPS 2 & 3 into REPS 4 |
REPS 4 was closed to new applicants on July 2009 |
|
Reduce the annual expenditure on the Disadvantaged Area Compensatory Allowance Scheme by 30% |
Expenditure was reduced by 14% or €35m in the 2009 Budget in October 2008 |
|
Reduce staff numbers and implement efficiency savings in the Department and State bodies under the Department’s aegis |
The Administrative Budget for the Department of €280 million in 2010 represents a reduction of €23 million in administration costs compared to 2008 and includes a reduction of almost €19 million in salary, overtime and travel costs due to a) lower staff numbers, reduced overtime and travel allocations, b) improved efficiencies and c) the rationalisation of the Department’s local office network.Reductions of the Grants-in-Aid to the State bodies under the aegis of the Department include €15 million cut in funding for administration and operating costs due to reductions in staff numbers and improved efficiencies. |
The Department keeps all elements of expenditure under close review. Funding for Schemes and services as well as the Administrative Budget will be decided in the context of the preparation of the annual Estimate on an on-going basis.
