Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 19 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 4

Written Answers. - Departmental Expenditure.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

445 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the meetings which were held between his Department and the Department of Finance in May 2002; if his Department indicated that it was facing spending pressures on a number of programmes which could result in an overrun of its vote; the programme concerned; the extent of spending overruns; the eventual outcome of the meetings with the Department of Finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22167/02]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

My Department met with the Department of Finance on 14 May 2002. Other meetings have taken place at other times and are a regular feature of the continuing liaison with the Department of Finance in relation to the management and control of expenditure of my Department's programmes.

The question of spending pressures was discussed with the Department of Finance at this May meeting and on other occasions. From these discussions, and following consideration of the issues by the Government, it was agreed that an excess of some €50 million for recoupment to local authorities in respect of accommodation for homeless persons, including asylum seekers, should be offset by savings in a range of other programmes. The details of these arrangements have been set out in the reply to Question No. 1582 of 9 October 2002.