Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 July 2014
379. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual saving to the Exchequer from a reduction of 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20%, respectively, in the cost of travel and expenses for his Department. [30119/14]
View answerUsing my Department’s 2013 outturn of €8,495,088 for travel and subsistence expenses as a base and excluding €509,027 EU Presidency related expenses, the following table sets out the projected savings if the various percentage reductions were applied:
|
% Reduction |
Annual Saving € |
|
1% |
79,861 |
|
5% |
399,303 |
|
7% |
559,024 |
|
10% |
798,606 |
|
12% |
958,327 |
|
15% |
1,197,909 |
|
20% |
1,597,212 |
In the period 2008 to 2013 my Department made total savings in its annual travel and subsistence expenditure of €10,290,307 (56%). These considerable savings have been driven by deploying more advanced technology, improving business processes and rationalising inspections. However it must be borne in mind that much of the Department’s business takes place on farms and other premises, many of which are in remote rural locations. This business in the main relates to inspections and controls which my Department is required to carry out under EU and National legislation.
