Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 December 2007
621 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the value for money review on installation aid was completed; the value of savings to the Exchequer generated by the implementation of the conclusions from this report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33379/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe value for money review on the Installation Aid Scheme will be completed by my Department during the course of 2008.
622 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the value for money review on the farm waste management programme was completed; the value of savings to the Exchequer generated by the implementation of the conclusions from this report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33380/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe value for money review on the Farm Waste Management Scheme was completed by my Department in 2007 and is available on my Department's website. Many of its recommendations were taken into account in the introduction of the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme in 2006 which provided increased grants to farmers in order to assist them meet the additional requirements of the Nitrates Directive.
623 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the value for money review on dairy hygiene was completed; the value of savings to the Exchequer generated by the implementation of the conclusions from this report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33382/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe value for money review of the Dairy Hygiene Scheme is currently at the external examiner stage and should be completed during the course of 2008.
624 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the value for money review of the food research and development grants was completed; the value of the savings to the Exchequer generated by the implementation of the conclusions from this report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33383/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department carries out Value for Money and Policy Reviews on major spending programmes in line with the strategic management initiative in order to: assess the objectives, efficiency and effectiveness of the programmes and to identify mechanisms to improve the delivery of specific programmes; and identify indicators which will improve monitoring of the performance of the programmes and of the success in meeting their objectives.
A review of the Food Institutional Research Measure, my Department's public good food research measure, has been carried out and the independent evaluation of the draft report, which is required under the expenditure review process, was recently completed. It is expected that the report will be signed off and published in the new year. Consideration will then be given to implementation of any recommendations in the report. It is not appropriate at this stage to comment on potential savings that may result from the review.
625 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the value for money review of the bovine TB scheme will be completed; the anticipated saving to the Exchequer due to the implementation of this report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33384/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe value for money review of the Bovine TB Eradication Scheme is scheduled for completion by the end of the year. After its completion, consideration will be given to implementation of any recommendations that may be contained in the report. Consequently, it is not possible at this stage to quantify the extent of any savings that may result from the review.
626 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the value for money review of the meat hygiene temporary inspectors scheme will be completed; the anticipated saving to the Exchequer due to the implementation of this report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33385/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993, the Strategic Management Initiative and the Public Service Management Act 1997 emphasised the need for increased efficiency and effectiveness in the use of public resources and set the background for the Expenditure Review process. Under this initiative, my Department carries out Value for Money and Policy Reviews on major spending programmes on a periodic basis. Their aim is to: assess the objectives, efficiency and effectiveness of the programmes and to identify mechanisms to improve the delivery of specific programmes; and identify indicators which will improve monitoring of the performance of the programmes and of the success in meeting their objectives.
Under the Temporary Veterinary Inspector (Meat Hygiene) Programme, private veterinary practitioners are engaged on a contract for service basis to conduct official controls in DAFF approved slaughtering establishments. A review of this Programme commenced in early 2007 and is nearing conclusion. It would be inappropriate in advance of completion of the review to speculate on the outcome.
627 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the value for money review of the cattle movement monitoring systems animal identification scheme will be completed; the anticipated saving to the Exchequer due to the implementation of this report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33386/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe value for money review of the cattle movement and monitoring system is scheduled for completion by the end of next year. After its completion, consideration will be given to implementation of any recommendations that may be contained in the report. Consequently, it is not possible at this stage to quantify the extent of any savings that may result from the review.
628 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the value for money review of the fallen animals scheme will be completed; the anticipated saving to the Exchequer due to the implementation of this report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33387/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Value for Money Review on the Fallen Animals Scheme is scheduled to be carried out next year.
