Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 445: To ask the Minister for Defence the reason in respect of the published Estimates for the Public Service 2009, estimated expenditure for 2009 under sub-head A1 for his Department is estimated to be decreased by 1% from 2008 while the estimated decrease under sub-head B is 2%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42917/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The net effect in real terms of the provision under subhead A1 of the 2009 Defence Estimate is just over a 4% reduction in the payroll costs for the civil service staff of my Department in 2009. In the case of subhead B (Permanent Defence Forces pay), the precise reduction compared with 2008 is 1.6%, which was rounded up to 2% in the published Estimates. The approved allocation for that subhead took account of the need to provide for priority non-pay Defence Forces expenditure in the current budgetary situation. In that regard it should be noted that the Administrative Budget represents a small proportion (less than 3%) of the overall Defence Estimate.