Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together.

My Department will effect the 8% reduction in professional fees for services provided or funded by the Department. Preparations are in hand on the final arrangements to give effect to this decision and the details will be announced in due course. It is not possible to estimate the expected savings at this stage.

As a result of the recent Government decision, my Department will achieve further savings of €583,000, which is a total saving of 2.8% on my Department's overall administrative budget for 2009. These savings have been identified across a number of the Department's administrative and programme subheads, including travel and subsistence, consultancy, telecommunications services, office equipment and premises and training. My Department's Revised Estimate for 2009 is €34.603 million, which is a reduction of 8% on the 2008 Revised Estimate.

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