I welcome the opportunity to discuss my Department's Further Revised Estimate for 2010 and annual output statement. The 2010 Estimate reflects the transfer of functions between my Department and the Department of Education and Skills from 1 May and supersedes the Revised Estimate published in February of this year.
Responsibility for training policy and employment programmes transferred from my Department to the Department of Education and Skills with effect from 1 May. However, expenditure incurred by my Department up to 30 April in this area is reflected in my Department's 2010 Estimate and is reported on in the annual output statement for the sake of completeness. The balance of funding available for this activity this year is reflected in the Estimate of the Department of Education and Skills. The net Exchequer Estimate for my Department for 2010 totals approximately €1.104 billion. This sum comprises €634.8 million in current expenditure and €470 million in capital expenditure. Appropriations-in-aid in my Department's Estimate will amount to €72.796 million this year, giving a gross allocation from the Exchequer of more than €1.177 billion.
The annual output statement also provides details of own resource income, which some of my Department's agencies expect to generate and use in the delivery of their programmes this year. This income is additional to the voted Estimate. When this income is taken into account, the total gross expenditure for 2010 for my Department's programmes will amount to almost €1.392 billion. In addition, a sum of €6.44 million is available to my Department's Vote by way of carry-over of capital savings from 2009.
I would like to outline some of the key objectives for the use of these funds, as set out in statement. In spite of the challenges which have prevailed over the past 18 months, the Government has continued to focus on policies which will enable Ireland's economy to return to growth, by restoring competitiveness, creating the right environment for export-led growth, supporting enterprises, and investing in the smart economy. My Department is at the centre of delivering these policies, assisted by the enterprise development agencies. Our aim is to position Ireland as a competitive, innovation-driven location in which to do business, promote entrepreneurship, target future inward investment and grow exports in existing and fast growing markets.
A budget of €717.9 million is available in 2010 for the restoring competitiveness and supporting enterprise programme area, including my Department's administrative costs and agency own resource income. The 2010 budget for this programme area represents an 18% increase on the 2009 outturn. The increase is accounted for by the significant resources provided this year for the employment subsidy scheme, additional Exchequer funding which is being made available for the payment of agency pensions following the transfer of certain pension fund assets to the National Pensions Reserve Fund — this is essentially a cost-neutral transfer of funds between the NPRF and the agencies, and a projected increase in agency own resource income. The level of own resource income that will be realised in 2010 will, however, be dependent on general economic conditions.
In spite of the difficult business environment last year, IDA Ireland approved 125 investment projects, Shannon Development approved a further 13, Enterprise Ireland supported 73 new high potential start-ups and the county enterprise boards exceeded their targets for engagement with enterprises, entrepreneurs and students. Building on this success, the committee will see that challenging targets have been set for this programme area for 2010.
Investing in innovative products and services that anticipate and meet the emerging needs of consumers and society will be the key to creating sustainable jobs and positioning Ireland as an innovation-driven location in which to do business. In this context, the commitment to investing in science, technology and innovation remains a major component of the Government's economic renewal plans. Funding under the science, technology and innovation programme area of my Department for 2010 amounts to €342.6 million. This includes the transfer of €41.2 million from the Department of Education and Skills in respect of the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions, PRTLI, and other research activities. The transfer of the budget for PRTLI to my Department is an important element of the streamlining of resources which will greatly enhance the efficiency and focus of the Government's investment in science, technology and innovation. It will ensure that funding is strategically targeted on those areas that can achieve greatest impact. Funding is delivered primarily by Science Foundation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland but also supports the discover science and engineering awareness programme, the Patents Office, the Tyndall Institute and programmes delivered by the Irish Universities Association. The IDA has a complementary role to play in promoting research and development through its allocation under the restoring competitiveness and supporting enterprise programme.
The work being undertaken by my Department and its agencies under the strategy for STI is having a real and positive impact on improving Ireland's competitiveness, not only in high-end innovative products, but across the enterprise spectrum. It is also meeting the objective of improving Ireland's international reputation for generating and using new technology and knowledge. For example, in 2009, 745 indigenous enterprises undertook research, development or innovation projects with the assistance of Enterprise Ireland. This enabled companies to maintain a competitive edge through product and process improvement, and through the development of new products. Enterprise Ireland is also working to bring the commercial potential of Irish research to fruition. IDA Ireland secured 62 research, development and innovation projects last year, with an investment value of €500 million, and Science Foundation Ireland operates a range of programmes designed to deliver a world-class standard of research activity to Irish enterprises and research institutions. Through its activities, SFI is helping to support the retention in employment of more than 56,000 people in high-value jobs in Ireland.
Given the central role my Department plays in promoting the research and innovation agenda, my Department will also drive the work of the high level implementation group set up to implement the recommendations of the innovation task force report published last March. Safeguarding the rights of those who are at work and providing industrial relations mechanisms to prevent and resolve disputes helps to support a better workplace for both employers and employees. This is the fourth programme area outlined in the annual output statement. My Department provides services in this area through the Labour Court, the Labour Relations Commission, the Employment Appeals Tribunal, the National Employment Rights Authority and the Health and Safety Authority. My Department also processes redundancy and insolvency payments, which are an important support for those who have lost their jobs.
Total funding for this programme area in 2010 will amount to €49.8 million, as set out in the annual output statement. The demand for the services delivered under this programme area has increased substantially over the past two years due to the economic climate, and this has put huge pressure on my Department and its offices. For example, the number of redundancies notified to my Department in 2009 amounted to 77,001. This represented a 90% increase compared to 2008. Claims to the Employment Appeals Tribunal increased by 73% last year, while referrals to the rights commissioners' services increased by 34%.
My Department increased the staffing resources in the redundancy payments section in 2009 to address the huge influx of claims. It also refined its procedures to help improve the processing of payments. The aim is to build on these initiatives and make significant inroads in the processing of claims in 2010. The Employment Appeals Tribunal is also taking measures to increase the number of claims which it processes this year. The Labour Court and the Labour Relations Commission will also continue to play an important role in the industrial relations arena under this programme area in 2010, while the National Employment Rights Authority will continue its programme of inspections and provision of information on employment law.
Due to the continuing high rate of fatalities in the sector, the Health and Safety Authority will place a particular focus on farm safety this year. We will also support the HSA and the Irish chemicals sector in addressing the demands of two major notification requirements to be met by the end of the year under the EU's new framework for the regulation of chemicals.
The investment in the programme areas I have outlined is underpinned by my Department's programme to support better regulation, business and the consumer. This programme area aims to ensure markets work in a fair and efficient manner, that competition is promoted, and that consumers' interests are safeguarded. The programme area finances the activities of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, the Companies Registration Office, the Registry of Friendly Societies, the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority, the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency, NCA. Funding for this Programme Area in 2010 will amount to €30.4 million.
Priorities for 2010 include the presentation to the Oireachtas of the consumer and competition Bill, which will provide for the merger of the NCA and Competition Authority, and the publication of the final report of the sales law review group. Drafting will continue on the companies consolidation and reform Bill, with a view to its presentation to the Houses of the Oireachtas in 2011. In addition to the programme areas that I have outlined, two smaller, but nonetheless important, programme areas are set out in the annual output statement which has been presented to the committee.
The delivery of the Department's strategic goals across all programme areas is enabled by the central supports provided by my Department's corporate services division. These supports include human resources services, ICT services, financial administration, building maintenance and other services such as processing of Freedom of Information Act requests and supporting Oireachtas business. The total funding available for this programme area in 2010 is €17.2 million. The other services programme area outlined in the annual output statement provides funding for a number of diverse activities and the total Exchequer allocation for this area in 2010 is €21.39 million. I will be happy to take any questions the committee may have regarding to the Estimate or the targets set out in the annual output statement.