Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2016
537. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the estimated full year saving for 2017 from reducing spending on travel by 10% in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14128/16]
View answerMy Department comprises two separate votes, Vote 28 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vote 27 International Co-operation.
The total amount spent on travel in 2015 is as per the following table:
|
- |
€ |
|
Vote 27 |
1.647m |
|
Vote 28 |
4.434m |
|
Total |
6.081m |
The application of 10% reduction to this expenditure would result in a savings of approximately €0.6m.
Reductions of this kind to travel could not be made without severe disruption to the vital work of the Department.
Given the nature of my Department’s responsibilities, officers are obliged to undertake a significant amount of official travel. Travel and meetings often take place out of hours and away from the officer’s headquarters leading to travel and/or subsistence requirements. The central aim of the Departmental travel policy is to minimise official travel costs and to achieve value for money for expenditure necessarily incurred, consistent with the effective discharge of official duties.
The Department complies with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars in relation to subsistence payments.
