Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the moneys allocated to her Department in this year's Estimates will be fully and appropriately spent during 2006; if she has identified any allocated moneys which are not needed by her Department; and if so the amount of such moneys. [30226/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's Revised Estimate for 2006 is €1,516.9 million (gross). This includes a capital carryover from 2005 of €18.3 million and an Administrative budget carryover of €8.7m. On the basis of expenditure to date, it would appear that almost all of the funds allocated to my department this year will be spent, but that there may be some savings on demand led schemes.

My Department will continue to carefully monitor expenditure as the year progresses, but it is too early at this stage to be certain about the final outturn for the year. Most of my Department's expenditure relates to demand-led schemes, animal disease control measures and technical and financial costs relating to intervention. As this expenditure depends on external factors such as demand, market conditions and animal disease levels, it is difficult to predict budgetary needs and outturns with precision. In addition, under multi annual administrative budget and capital envelope arrangements agreed with the Department of Finance, savings can be carried over into 2007 to meet needs arising next year.