Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 December 2013

Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Questions (439)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

439. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine of the €26 million in capital spending recorded as not spent under the expenditure profile at end November in the most recent analysis of gross voted expenditure Exchequer figures, the reason for the underspend; if he will provide a breakdown of the capital projects or outlays that have not commenced as yet as per the profile; if any of the total €107.2 million in total capital carryover in Government for 2012 relates to his Department; the amount of same; if it has been spent; on what it has been spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52946/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The bulk of the Department's capital budget after the payment of forestry premia and capital budget assigned to non-commercial State sponsored bodies, relates to demand led grant schemes. The rate of expenditure is determined by the rate of progress achieved by various beneficiaries in undertaking their approved projects and the drawing down of monies when projects have been completed.

At the end of November, actual capital budget spending was behind profile for the period January to November 2013 by approximately €25.755 million made up as follows:-

-	€m
On farm capital grant schemes (mainly TAMS)	10.3
Fisheries	5.3
Marketing & Processing (food sector)	6.0
Forestry	2.6
Miscellaneous (including State bodies)	1.5

Most of the funds provided for in the 2013 capital budget relate to grant approvals that have already issued and for which funds have yet to be drawn down by the beneficiaries.

Of the total Government level capital saving of €107.2m., carried over from 2012 to 2013, €6 million related to the Department. With the approval of the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, the €6 million was assigned to the forestry capital budget and was fully consumed in the early part of 2013.

The total spend for my Department for 2013 is not yet completed and final discussions on possible carryover for 2014 are still ongoing.