Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 8, inclusive, together.

The total allocation for my Department in the Estimates set out in the budget for 2009 is €36.269 million. This is an overall decrease of 14%, some €5.871 million, on the 2008 Revised Estimate allocation. This decrease includes the transfer of the information society and e-inclusion functions and associated funding of €3.507 million from my Vote to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Department of Finance.

I look forward to addressing specific issues relating to the Estimates provisions when they are considered in the usual way by the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service. I also look forward to responding to questions which Deputies may wish to table separately regarding specific aspects of the work of my Department. It is envisaged that Revised Estimates for 2009 will be published in March this year.

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