Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 January 2010
873 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the savings outlined in the report of the special group on public numbers and expenditure programmes which were accepted in budget 2010 for his Department in tabular form; the savings which will be achieved in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1256/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraExpenditure provisions for 2010 for my Department are set out in the Estimates Volume published by the Minister for Finance as part of Budget 2010. These provisions have been determined in the context of the overall provision for public services, reflect the need to reduce public spending and, as indicated by the Minister for Finance in his Financial Statement on 9 December 2009, have been guided by the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes.
My Department, local authorities and related agencies will work to maximise outputs from the 2010 provisions through prioritisation, increased efficiency and lower procurement costs generally.
Recommendations in the Report relating to my Department are reflected in, inter alia, savings in administrative costs arising from reductions in public service numbers and pay; the Exchequer contribution to the Local Government Fund (€367 million compared to the 2009 estimate of €417 million, in the context of wider developments relating to local government finance); and policy developments concerning charging for treated water use and more extensive use of leasing to ensure overall housing output is maintained at the highest level possible. I have also announced details of the work of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group which, consistent with the approach in the Report, will look at the cost base and expenditure of, and numbers employed in, local authorities.
