Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Dáil referred the Revised Estimate to the select committee on 28 February. The purpose of the meeting is to consider the Further Revised Estimates for 2019 for the Department of Rural and Community Development which amounts to €260,282,000. It is an opportunity for the committee to make the process more transparent and engage in a meaningful way on relevant performance issues. The programme-based structure of the Estimate is intended to assist the committee in focusing on what the Department has committed to achieving in actual outputs and outcomes, considering whether the performance targets included in the Estimate are sufficiently descriptive of the services provided by the Department and whether they strike the right balance in meeting the needs of society, and considering if the information provided by the Department makes clear how the moneys available are allocated between services and whether the allocations are the most appropriate in the circumstances. I propose to proceed programme by programme and subhead by subhead. At the outset of our consideration of each programme I will ask the Minister or the Minister of State to give a high-level overview of it, including the pressures likely to impact on the Department's performance and related expenditure in 2019. Having discussed the main subheads within a programme, members may wish to raise issues related to other subheads within the programme before moving on to the next one. This approach will assist them in their consideration of the Estimate. Is that agreed? Agreed.

It is proposed to publish on the committee's website the opening statements and briefing documents supplied by the Department. This will be an invaluable aid for citizens in monitoring the Department's performance. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I welcome the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Ring, and the Minister of State at the Departments of Rural and Community Development and Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Canney. I also extend a warm welcome to the officials accompanying them. I invite the Minister to make his opening statement.