Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 January 2012

Tuesday, 24 January 2012

Questions (520)

Michelle Mulherin

Question:

545 Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the costs associated with retaining a hot desk, computer and printer with Internet access, only at Ballina agri-environment options scheme offices which it is proposed to close; if he will provide an analysis of the additional travel expenses which will be involved in having staff currently based in the Ballina office, which serves the Ballina region of north and west Mayo and south Sligo, having their travel expenses calculated from Michael Davitt offices, Castlebar for the purpose of farm visits and inspections by staff back to the Ballina region; the estimate of savings which would be achieved by having travel expenses to the Ballina region calculated from the Ballina offices, as opposed to the Castlebar offices. [3424/12]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)

Reorganising the local office network of the Department will achieve savings in the order of €30 million annually once fully implemented. There are several macro elements to savings including overall pay roll and overhead savings as well as efficiencies to be achieved through better and extended use of technological investments.

Improved productivity in on-farm activities, including any in west Mayo and south Sligo, is focused on systematic management of field activities and an increased usage of virtual office technology by Department field staff. Systematic management is being achieved through increased use and functionality in the Department's Agricultural Field Inspection Testing System (AFIT) which allows on-farm activities to be best matched to relevant and proximate staff thereby ensuring, inter alia , that only necessary expenses apply. Technology enhancements in telephony and increased remote access availability to the Department’s suite of on-line systems are considerably reducing the return to base frequency for field staff and consequently the overall costs involved in the Departments’ on-farm activities.