Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 122: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs 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. [20439/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was established in June 2002 bringing together a range of functions previously under the remit of six different Departments.

The annual Estimates provision since the formation of the Department and the amounts surrendered to the central fund are set out in the table below.

Expenditure in the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs occurs across four main programme areas: administration; anGhaeilge agus an Ghaeltacht; community affairs; and rural affairs. Details of the Department's expenditure allocations and outturns across these areas are available in the Revised Estimates volumes and the Appropriation Accounts respectively.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 123: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the amount of unspent money returned by her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [20440/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The following is the information requested.

A detailed breakdown of the savings under each Vote subhead together with an explanation of any savings or excesses is provided in the Appropriation Account each year. In general, expenditure under my Department's Vote is on programmes and grant schemes rather than specific projects.

Most of the Department's expenditure relates to demand-led schemes, animal disease control measures and technical and financial costs relating to intervention. Expenditure in these areas is difficult to predict because it is demand or market-led, or dependent on the incidence of animal disease. Savings in 2004 related primarily to demand-led schemes including REPS, farm waste management, and forestry, and to the animal health area, where there was a significant reduction in the incidence of BSE, TB and brucellosis.

In the other years referred to by the Deputy in which there were significant savings, the main areas were are as follows: 2003 — the main savings arose in the market intervention area due to lower purchases than anticipated, in the animal health area due to lower levels of BSE and scrapie than anticipated, and in the early retirement scheme due to fewer applications than anticipated, 2001 — the main savings related to the purchase for destruction scheme because of lower than anticipated take-up, REPS, which is demand-led, and grant scheme payments under the national development plan, due largely to the foot and mouth crisis; 2000 — the main savings related to agricultural and rural development schemes under the national development plan because of the late approval of the plan, REPS, due to lower take-up than anticipated; and market intervention; and 1999 — savings related primarily to REPS and farm diversification measures, both of which are demand-led, and to expenses under the tribunal of inquiry into the beef processing industry, expenditure under which was contingent on decisions of the taxing master and the number of claims received.