Written answers
Thursday, 16 June 2005
Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
Departmental Funding
5:00 pm
Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Question 98: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount of unspent money returned by his Department to the Department of Finance each year since 1997; the total departmental budget for each year since 1997; the projects for which this money was originally earmarked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20435/05]
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context
The funding voted for my Department under Vote 35, together with the surplus surrendered to the Department of Finance for each of the years from 1997 to 2004, are outlined in the following table:
| Year | Estimate (Vote 35) | Surplus surrendered |
| 1997 | IR£89,324,000 | IR£11,904,332 |
| 1998 | IR£103,897,000 | IR£5,726,309 |
| 1999 | IR£144,939,000 | IR£27,608,520 |
| 2000 | IR£195,078,000 | IR£50,749,282 |
| 2001 | IR£215,080,000 | IR£9,601,288 |
| 2002 | â'¬369,449,000 | â'¬4,926,134 |
| 2003 | â'¬346,974,000 | â'¬4,869,917 |
| 2004 | â'¬444,390,000 | â'¬4,939,632 |
Two points must be borne in mind when considering these figures. First, the Department was reconfigured in 2002 as the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, having formerly been the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation. Second, the surplus figures shown represent the net end-of-year position, taking into account the reallocation of savings achieved within the Vote and the offsetting of any shortfall in appropriations-in-aid, where necessary. Net surpluses arose from savings on a variety of schemes and projects, due to factors outside the control of the Department. Full explanations for significant variations between Estimate provision and outcome for each of the subheads within my Department's Vote are contained in the annual appropriation accounts and report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, volume 2.
My ministerial Vote group also includes the Vote for the National Gallery of Ireland, Vote 33. The funding voted for the National Gallery together with the surplus surrendered for each of the years in question are as follows:
| Year | Estimate | Surplus surrendered |
| 1997 | IR£2,121,000 | IR£23,953 |
| 1998 | IR£2,274,000 | IR£44,637 |
| 1999 | IR£2,560,000 | IR£24,598 |
| 2000 | IR£6,484,000 | IR£3,168,802 |
| 2001 | IR£12,094,000 | IR£564,426 |
| 2002 | â'¬10,116,000 | â'¬60,684 |
| 2003 | â'¬8,436,000 | â'¬129,865 |
| 2004 | â'¬8,602,000 | â'¬173,067 |
As indicated previously, full explanations for variations between Estimate provision and outcome are provided in annual appropriation accounts and report of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
No comments