Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Enterprise Ireland savings of €8 million essentially arise as a result of that body generating its own resource income in the year beyond that sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It is a result of slower than expected drawing down on a number of Enterprise Ireland programmes. Enterprise Ireland also invests equity in companies and when they become profitable, the money comes back to Enterprise Ireland. The body received an increase in its budget last year and it was not able to spend all the income. It had to use its own resource income first and there was therefore a surplus. I was able to move it to other pressing needs.

The savings in the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, arise as a result of delays in filling new staff posts. There is a very competitive recruitment market. Nevertheless, the increases in funding provided to the HSA have enabled it to recruit 13 additional staff, with a number of other positions currently being filled. The money is there but unfortunately the authority has not been able to get all the staff it wants. The resources are available and as soon as staff are recruited, the money will be made available. The authority is having problems because we are at full employment and it is finding it difficult to get people.