Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach the changes to be made to his Department's Estimate for 2009 arising from Budget decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15143/09]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 2: To ask the Taoiseach the revisions to his Department's Estimate for 2009 arising from the 7 April 2009 budget decisions on public spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17398/09]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.

As a result of the supplementary budget on 7 April, my Department's 2009 estimate has been reduced by €3.583 million over the Estimate published last October. The reductions have been identified across several of the Department's administrative and programme subheads. My Department's revised estimate for 2009 is €32.686 million which is a reduction of 22% on the 2008 further revised estimate.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Why is there an increase of 10% in the allocation for consultancy services under subhead A7 given that the Minister for Finance announced last July that all expenditure by Departments and agencies on consultancies, advertising and PR was to be reduced significantly for the remainder of this year and by at least 50% in 2009? There are significant increases in the allocations for office machinery and office premises expenses. In respect of what are these increases?

In his announcement on 3 February, the Minister for Finance said all Departments would be required to effect general administrative reductions in their budgets. Where have these occurred in the Taoiseach's Department and to what do they amount? Has there been any reduction in the staffing level in either the constituency or private office of the Taoiseach or the Ministers of State attached to his Department?

The most significant expenditure is on the Moriarty tribunal. The allocation has increased from €4 million to €7.5 million. Is the Taoiseach satisfied this will be sufficient to meet the tribunal's needs given that it appears to be about to embark on another significant round of public hearings? Has there been any communication between the tribunal and the Taoiseach on the likely extent of the resumed hearings? Is there a likely date for the conclusion and publication of the final report? When the Taoiseach last spoke about this on 3 March, he said the total cost up to 31 January 2009 was €34.91 million and that the figure for 2008 was €4 million. The recently published report of the Comptroller and Auditor General states that if one included third-party costs, which are uncertain and to which there is a high degree of contingency attached, the figure could be €100 million. Has there been any recalculation of the total likely cost to the Department?

Has the Taoiseach had an opportunity to observe or read a number of newspaper reports published about two weeks ago, particularly in Sunday newspapers, on an important document in the possession of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in respect of which it held legal privilege for almost ten years? It was suggested that because the draft report of the tribunal may have contained some critique of officials in that Department, the document was to be released to the tribunal, granted that it had not already been laid before it confidentially and was not mentioned in public hearings.

Most people in the country are upset by many things that have gone badly in recent years but are further upset by the thought that a document that may have clarified serious matters for the tribunal was just sat on for ten years and is now to be the subject of extensive public hearings. What is the Taoiseach's take on this? What is the likely cost of the extra hearings? The moneys spent on the tribunal tend to dwarf all the other expenditures under the heading pertaining to the Department of the Taoiseach.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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With regard to the supplementary questions arising from the question on the Estimates, it is important to point out that there has been a reduction of 22%. It is not true to say there has been an increase in PR or consultancy spending. That is not correct. In fact, consultancy provision in the Department's Vote in 2008, under subhead A7, was €275,000, and this has been reduced to €118,000 as a result of the Government's decision to cut consultancy costs by 50%. Along with further budget day cuts, this results in a total reduction of 57% over the 2008 provision. Every effort was made by the Department to minimise its budget in that area. The consultancy provision in my Department's Vote, as I said, is quite small.

With regard to the other savings, reductions of €3.583 million were obtained. A total of €2.013 million in reductions will be made across the programme subheads in the Vote, while reductions of €170,000 will be made across administrative subheads. For example, the National Forum on Europe will be closed, with a reduction of €1.853 million. Other reductions across programme subheads include €110,000 for the National Economic and Social Development Office, €10,000 for commemoration initiatives, and €24,000 for the Ireland Newfoundland partnership. These are in addition to earlier reductions across all subheads in last October's budget, resulting in reduced allocations in these subheads of at least 15% in each programme subhead and of 36% across the total programme provision in the Vote. As a result of the Government decision of 8 July last regarding measures for expenditure control, substantial savings were achieved across the programme subheads through a combination of administrative efficiencies. These savings will continue to be realised during the course of this year.

A question was raised regarding the 10% reduction in private office costs. Since taking office I have asked that all areas of expenditure in my private offices and those of the Ministers of State in my Department be reviewed to identify where savings could be achieved. Staffing arrangements in my office have been reorganised, resulting in the redeployment of two members of staff, and I have asked that a reduction in overtime costs be achieved in the future. I have also instructed staff to obtain better value in foreign travel, official entertainment and the range of administrative costs associated with the running of these offices through reviews of processes and procurement practices in order to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness.

Regarding speculation about a document held by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the matter is best dealt with by the Minister concerned. It is not intended to change the allocation that has been made available for the Moriarty tribunal this year.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In view of the general unease people are feeling about how the Government is running - or not running - the affairs of the country and the cost the tribunal has thus far incurred without ever producing an interim report, the possibility of further extended hearings in order to call back a collection of witnesses, particularly civil servants, is scary. Given the importance of the Moriarty tribunal in the affairs of the nation, and the fact that the budget heading is specifically the responsibility of the Taoiseach in his capacity as head of his Department, he needs to comment on the increase in the Estimate from €4 million to €7.5 million, which is an increase of 87%. He must be aware of the issue. The suggestion that only the line Minister in the relevant Department would be aware of this is surprising, because I would have thought that, with regard to legal privilege, the Attorney General was also involved in advising on this document.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy must ask a question as it is Question Time. Can the Taoiseach give an idea of the revised cost of the Moriarty tribunal over and above the previous estimate of €100 million? How long will the additional hearings take? Does the Taoiseach have a date for the production of any kind of report by the tribunal, either interim or final?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Those are not matters covered by the general question on Estimates here.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, they are not.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The only point I would make is that I have answered a question on the tribunal and issues arising in recent weeks so I refer the Deputy to that detailed response to the questions asked then.

As regards the report of the Moriarty tribunal, it is a matter for the chairman of the tribunal to decide how he wishes to proceed. He has used a different method from other tribunals in trying to avoid greater costs to the taxpayer in terms of how he has conducted that detailed, complicated inquiry. I refer again to previous answers to specific questions on the matter. I make the point that there is no change in the Estimate provision for this year.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Exchequer figures published yesterday call to mind the words of the Minister for Finance on Monday, when he said the science of economic forecasting at present is imprecise, a bit like forecasting the weather, where there is such a variety of forecasts that the reality is we share a common analysis. If that is the case, does the Taoiseach believe the Estimates published in respect of his Department will stand up to analysis?

Has the Taoiseach established the criteria that will apply for the replacement of staff who might retire or move on? Is there any indication of the numbers within the Department who might retire this year? Will they be replaced? Is there any assurance that public servants who take early retirement will not have their lump sums taxed? If this matter is not conclusively addressed, it will quickly cause a brain drain and a loss of experience from all Departments. It must be dealt with in a reassuring manner by the Taoiseach.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I answered the question about vacancies last week. I referred the Deputy to the budget statement of the Minister for Finance, who outlined that it was not the intention at that time to tax those gratuities and he would refer back to the matter in December.

On the question of the Estimates, they came in as scheduled last year and will come in this year. It is a matter of controlling expenditure. This is the money that is available and that has been passed by the Houses for these purposes and it would take a supplementary budget to change that. I do not expect there will be a supplementary budget for the Department.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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What process is used within the Department to determine savings or cuts when such decisions are being considered? We have seen a series of cuts across Departments and the public service, many of them unacceptable, certainly to Opposition voices and to many Government backbenchers. Some of these decisions have had a negative effect on the public's opinion of politics as a whole, such as the HPV vaccine programme and the cuts in special needs education. What process is used to make determinations? Does the Secretary General of the Department highlight possible cuts and does the Taoiseach, as head of the Department, make the final determination? Is the practice the same in other Departments or is the overall budget cut and then it is left to the individual Minister to determine how the Department's spending will fit into the overall sum allocated? Can the Taoiseach give us a sense of how this process works? Is the Cabinet involved in this respect? Is there detail on these proposals? Does the matter go to the Cabinet for a final decision to be taken on it? Is it a collective decision of the Cabinet or is it left to the Taoiseach's Department and other Departments to make these at times alarming decisions?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to make it clear to the Deputy that one has two options when in government. One tries to bring about a situation where one's public finance position is sustainable or one decides that it is unsustainable, does not make any decisions and continues to borrow money at a rate that is not affordable over the period of time. That is the position.

One has a budget. Limited resources are available to the State and there are priorities that have to be set out. The Government has set out its budgetary position in great detail and it stands over those decisions. Many decisions have to be taken which one would rather one would not have to consider but they have to be considered on the basis of the financial resources available. That is the duty of Government. The luxury of Opposition is to decry all decisions and suggest a painless alternative way forward where money can be obtained like manna from heaven or that one can continue with the provision of service levels that are simply not affordable in terms of the public coffers. Alternatively, the Opposition can decide there are specific alternatives and put them before us.

On the methodology of individual decisions that have to be taken, a bilateral Estimates process takes place between the Minister for Finance and individual Departments. There are also Cabinet meetings, which take broader policy decisions. Where further decisions are required in the aftermath of the bilateral Estimates process, the Government has to take those decisions.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to ask a brief supplementary. The picture the Taoiseach has painted is not clear. The reason I ask this question is that I have never been in government and I am anxious and curious to know how these decisions are arrived at. I base my line of questioning on what was abhorrent to Opposition voices in the House, that members of the Government and members of the Cabinet were apparently unaware of the detail of the decisions announced on 7 April or 14 October last, or were they just being smart-assed about it and pretending that they had not been consulted? I ask the question again - are the decisions on the cuts in regard to specific Departments taken within the Department or are they decisions of the collective Cabinet?

The Taoiseach mentioned that the Cabinet is involved in broader policy decisions. In respect of the major decisions that have impacted so heavily and negatively not only in terms of public attitude towards the Government but - I believe I am fair in reflecting this - also against politics in general, which is clearly the position, are those decisions taken within Departments or is each Minister responsible for the cuts under his or her portfolio of responsibility? How are those decisions determined? Are the Secretaries General involved in such proposals? Who comes up with the ideas and the instances I cited in my opening question in regard to the cancellation of the HPV vaccine? Who dreamed up that proposal? In regard to the decision on special needs education where some 500 children will be deprived of the essential supports they need in the classroom, who dreamed up that proposal? I do not expect that the respective Ministers were the initial volunteers of these proposals but I could be surprised. The Taoiseach might have another go at responding to this question. I would be pleased to hear any further detail he would care to share.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I advise the Deputy I do not think the word "smart-assed" appears in the thesaurus.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As I was explaining to the Deputy, at the beginning of every budgetary process a bilateral meeting takes place between individual Ministers and the Minister for Finance. The Minister for Finance will have obtained from Government broad agreement on the parameters of the budgetary strategy, based on the macro-economic forecasts and whatever other issues he can bring to the table as to what needs to be done. Once this is achieved, the parameters are set and separate bilateral meetings take place between the Minister for Finance and individual Ministers. In respect of every departmental Estimate there are officials in the Department of Finance who work on those issues all the time and they are the contact for officials from, for example, the Department of Education and Science, on issues of general administration. They discuss the questions and a political discussion takes place between Ministers and officials on both sides. In so far as agreement can be reached on the proposed Estimate, then agreement is reached. Subsequently all these Estimates, once agreed, are put to Cabinet where they are agreed, adopted and published. If there are further political decisions that need to be made to take account of the broad economic situation, or of any proposals from the Minister for Finance for budgetary measures or initiatives, these are also decided at Cabinet. Taxation matters are the preserve of the Minister for Finance and this is how the budget works.

The Deputy suggests there is a lack of commitment on the part of Government, for example, with regard to special needs education. This Government has seen greater improvements in special needs education and quite rightly so because of the increased resources we were able to provide due to the success of our economic policies. Adjustments now have to be made but there are thousands of special needs assistants in situ today who were not there before we came into office and there are thousands of extra teachers, thousands of new classrooms, thousands and millions of euro worth of new equipment -----

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Thousands of unemployed.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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-----and the numbers of people who are now being provided for in mainstream education show that there has been a revolution in the provision of education - and quite rightly so - for those with disabilities and problems. This is not to suggest that every problem has been solved but I do not accept the contention that this Government has not shown a very strong commitment in this area. It has displayed a very strong commitment and one that is far stronger than the commitment shown by any previous Governments, precisely because more resources have been available. The record will show this commitment and it will also show there are ongoing problems of administration which must be dealt with. However, resources are finite and in the areas of health and education and social welfare we have sought to minimise the imposition of hardships but clearly the provision of service levels at existing levels or indeed improving them depends on obtaining certain flexibilities and certain new arrangements in terms of staffing and methods of operating and managing services. This will be a continuing challenge for any Administration for the foreseeable future, given that we will need to get more for less because it is clear there will be fewer resources than was the case in the past.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Targeting vulnerable children is not the answer.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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We certainly do not do that.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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With regard to the proposed retirement scheme for public servants, is there any kind of Cabinet sub-committee or monitoring process to discover the number of public servants likely to retire? Has the Taoiseach any figures for his own Department as to the number of civil servants wishing to retire early under the scheme and civil servants who have sought to take leave under the scheme announced in the budget? Who will make the decision in the Taoiseach's Department and in other Departments as to whose retirement application will be accepted and whose will be rejected, perhaps on the grounds that the person is indispensable? Is there any kind of committee at Cabinet level to oversee this scheme because otherwise-----

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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This sounds like a different question.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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-----it is possible that some of the best people will go? I ask in particular about the Taoiseach's own Department. Is he concerned that people whom he did not envisage leaving, may leave and others whom he thought might take the offer are not doing so? Is he concerned at the widespread reports that senior members of the Garda Síochána are actively considering early retirement because of the suggested tax on the lump sum?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is beginning to stray into different territory.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Questions about specific areas of specific Departments should be addressed to specific Ministers. At the end of April this year the number of whole-time equivalent staff serving in my Department was 2,009. We will endeavour to redeploy staff according to key business needs and activity levels; to restructure work loads as appropriate; and achieve greater productivity through exploiting new technologies and availing of shared service arrangements. In 2008 staff savings were achieved in this manner by moving the operation of my Department's financial management system and associated transaction processing to the financial shared service centre of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in Killarney.

Further to the moratorium on recruitment and promotion, no vacancy arising in my Department will be filled except in exceptional circumstances with the express sanction of the Department of Finance as provided for in the Department of Finance circular. This will necessitate reviews of how staff are deployed in the Department to ensure key areas of Department activity are adequately staffed. The Department will endeavour to redeploy staff according to key business needs and levels of activity, restructure workloads as appropriate and achieve greater productivity through exploiting new technologies and availing of shared service arrangements. The Department will adhere to the moratorium on recruitment and promotions in the public service. No vacancies in my Department will be filled, however they arise, whether by recruitment, promotion or payment of an allowance for the performance of duties at a higher grade in accordance with the circular issued by the Department of Finance on 27 March.

It is difficult to predict the numbers affected in terms of how many vacancies will not be filled arising from any further reduction in the Estimate provision for salaries because it depends on the timing and grade of any vacancies that may arise due to staff leaving the Department, whether as a result of retirement or any other reason.