Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Absolutely. The Deputy will be glad to hear that there have been no further cutbacks. In fact, the Revised Estimate published in the past hour contains a number of small adjustments that are positive in nature.

We have been examining every programme in the interests of cutting administrative costs, reducing duplication, etc. The tying up of the local and community development programme, LCDP, is a perfect example of what we are trying to achieve in the context of bringing programmes together and ensuring that two people in the same area are not replicating each other's work. I am engaged in a similar streamlining exercise in respect of organisations in the Gaeltacht. The aim of this exercise is to ensure that each Gaeltacht area will have an organisation operating within it but that there will be no area in which two such organisations are operating.

In reply to the previous question, I outlined the approach we took in respect of the CSP, namely, we removed the non-wage grant but we will assist those experiencing particular difficulties. In the past two years, the approach in respect of the rural social scheme has been to reduce funding and ask communities to do a little extra.

In the context of the Department's Vote, our approach has been to try to obtain more for less. The Deputy is probably aware that I made an announcement in the Seanad last night in respect of the payment for mná tí na Gaeltachta. The cut in respect of this payment, which currently stands at €10.50, will be 5%. That is a far cry from what Professor Colm McCarthy suggested, namely, the abolition of the scheme over two years. Deputy Ring will be aware that the Government is 150% committed to this key scheme. I accept that, in the context of the drop in the consumer price index, it will not be easy for the mná tí to cope with the cut. However, we are retaining the scheme and the tax exemption for the mná tí will also be maintained. I am of the view that these are welcome developments.

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