Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the proposed savings that were made by him since his appointment as Minister; the value of these proposed savings; the amount of these savings that have been achieved to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10250/09]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way, in respect of the announcement of 3 February 2009, it is intended to achieve administrative reductions in regard to his Department; the amount expected to be saved in his Department's budget as a result of this process; if there will be a cut in services provided by or funded through his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10155/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 67 together.

The public expenditure provision for my Department amounted to €3,198m in 2008 as between capital and current provisions. In Budget 2009 the published expenditure provision for 2009 was €3,114m representing a reduction of 3% in overall expenditure by my Department. The reduction in overall expenditure has been brought about by a combination of efficiency savings and limited reductions applied to some spending provisions for 2009 in light of the present budgetary position.

In regard to the operation of my Department, we are achieving savings and efficiencies in relation to payroll, energy efficiency in Departmental offices and in travel and subsistence costs.

With regard to the programmes implemented by my Department, we are at all times seeking to maximize the outputs achieved from all financial resources. Measures include better prioritisation, streamlining procedures and a firm objective of achieving value for money.

As announced recently, the Government has indicated in light of the further deterioration in the public finances that public expenditure provisions and revenue increasing measures will be reviewed in the coming weeks with a view to the introduction of a Supplementary Budget early next month. This is necessary to adhere to the planned Budgetary strategy for the current year. Revised estimates will then be published which will show the full extent of the savings to be achieved by my Department.

As Minister, I have at all times maintained a critical focus on the need for efficiency and effectiveness in the disbursement of all funding under my control. This focus on value for money extends to the local government sector where local councils must also seek and implement optimum efficiencies in the implementation of local programmes.