Written answers

Wednesday, 29 April 2009

Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Departmental Expenditure

9:00 pm

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 84: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way the reduction of €47.4 million in the Estimate for his Department, announced in the 7 April 2009 Budget, will be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16726/09]

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 91: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reductions in funding to community and voluntary organisations that will follow from the decisions of the Supplementary Budget of 7 April 2009 to cut the Estimate for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16722/09]

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 106: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the main changes in the Estimate for his Department, arising from the 7 April 2009 budget decisions. [16725/09]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 91 and 106 together.

As the Deputy is aware, in the current economic circumstances, the Government was faced with difficult decisions in the recent Budget. Accordingly, it considered a range of measures to maintain a prudent fiscal outturn for 2009 and to provide the basis for a sustainable approach to the current financial situation. Across Government, our approach has been to do this in as balanced a way as possible.

The revised 2009 net allocation for my Department at €443.7m shows a reduction of €47.4m on the initial estimated allocation announced in October 2008. Full details of the reductions at an individual programme level are available in the recently published Revised Estimates Volume 2009, which is available on line via the following website address: http://www.finance.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=5745

€11.8m of my Department's reduction relates to capital expenditure. This includes a transfer of some €2.5m to the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs relating to the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund. The balance reflects adjustments in capital expenditure made in the package of measures announced by the Minister of Finance at end-January 2009.

The table below summarises the position for my Department's capital programme areas:

Capital Programme Area2009 Budget Allocation2009 REV AllocationsReduction
€000€000€000
Administration680610-70
Developing Communities14,00013,340-660
Tackling Problem Drug Use8,1004,591-3,509
Rural Development51,00047,976-3,024
Gaeltacht & Islands Development59,07055,332-3,738
Promotion and Maintenance of the Irish Language650600-50
North/South Co-operation11,50010,726-774
Total145,000133,175-11,825

In relation to current expenditure, there is a reduction of €35.6m, which includes a transfer of €17.4m to the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs for the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund and a transfer of €2m to the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism from Ciste na Gaeilge in relation to the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Regional Development Programme. The balance is made up of savings achieved mainly by the reduction of administration costs for my Department, the State agencies within its ambit, and community and voluntary organisations.

The table below summarises the position for my Department's current programme areas:

Current Programme Area2009 Budget Allocation2009 REV AllocationsReduction
€000€000€000
Administration18,77818,347-431
Developing Communities161,650149,976-11,674
Tackling Problem Drug Use53,00036,020-16,980
Rural Development56,76055,446-1,314
Gaeltacht & Islands Development31,63030,586-1,044
Promotion and Maintenance of the Irish Language9,9727,774-2,198
North/South Co-operation46,29544,376-1,919
Total378,085342,525-35,560

To the extent that community and voluntary organisations are affected within the various programme areas of my Department, efforts have been made to minimise the effect on frontline services, where possible. This approach will continue in the context of the ongoing financial management of my Department's Vote.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.