Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the cuts in services provided by or funded through his Department arising from Budget 2009 decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40950/08]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will make a statement on the Estimate for his Department in 2009. [40949/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 129 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department's Budget Day estimate for 2009 was published on 14 October 2008. Overall funding is reduced by a total of 6%, with current expenditure reduced by 5% and capital expenditure by 8.5%.

My primary concern is to ensure that the daily front line services provided through my Department, especially those focused on the needs of the most socially disadvantaged communities, are protected. Administrative overheads are targeted for particular reductions so that the wide range of services my Department provides, in partnership with other bodies and agencies across urban, rural, Gaeltacht and island communities, is maintained. Key areas in this regard include the Drugs Initiative, the Rural Social Scheme, the Community Services Programme, the Dormant Accounts-funded Initiatives on Tackling Economic & Social Disadvantage, supports for the Community and Voluntary Sector, the National Rural Development Programme, the Gaeltacht, Islands and the Irish language, and North-South co-operation.

Across Government, we have had to take a range of difficult decisions, but our approach has been to do it in as balanced a way as possible. We are all faced with difficult decisions in the current economic circumstances, particularly in the short term. There will still be positive news for 2009 — for example, in the case of rural areas, it will come with the rollout of the new National Rural Development Programme, the largest such programme for diversifying the rural economy and improving the quality of life in rural areas. €27m has been provided for this Programme next year.

Finally, with a total vote of some €520m for 2009, I am confident that, by focusing resources efficiently, we can continue with the very comprehensive work being carried out by my Department.