Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 2 April 2019

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised)

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy asked about the capital element of programme C which she indicated seemed to provide for a reduction. If one removes the big ticket item, namely, subhead C10, under the heading, Brexit resilience measures, one will see that €25 million was drawn down in 2018. It was accounted for in budget 2017 under the heading of the Brexit loan scheme. That product is coming to the market and not replicated. It is, therefore, a significant hit to the subhead. In the case of the restoration of Johnstown Castle, for example, the cut of 48% is simply due to the fact that the work has been completed and there is no need to replicate the funding in 2019. Apart from that, it is quite satisfactory overall. In the case of the horse and greyhound fund, capital spending has been reduced by 3%, but current spending has risen by 6%. Overall, therefore, there has also been an increase in the horse and greyhound fund. Generally, the programme is in the black.

On the World Food Programme, as I understand it, in late 2017 we brought forward and made our 2018 allocation because the programme is always seeking earlier payment.

By the end of 2017, we had made our allocation to the 2018 World Food Programme. The same thing happened in 2018. We brought forward the substantial balance of our 2019 allocation and paid it at the end of 2018. It looks like a drop, but I am advised that, over a three-year period, our commitment is €70 million. The graph is certainly moving in the right direction. In fact, we are a substantial contributor to the World Food Programme's budget.

What was the last question?

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