Written answers
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
Departmental Expenditure
8:00 am
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 40: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the areas within his Department most likely to be affected by recently announced financial constraints due to the downturn in the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23231/09]
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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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 allocation for my Department shows a gross 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=-1&CatID=13&m=f
€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 priorities for capital expenditure in 2009 are reflected in the table below, which summarises the position for my Department's capital programme areas.
| Capital Programme Area | 2009 Budget Allocation | 2009 REV Allocations | Reduction |
| €000 | €000 | €000 | |
| Administration | 680 | 610 | -70 |
| Developing Communities | 14,000 | 13,340 | -660 |
| Tackling Problem Drug Use | 8,100 | 4,591 | -3,509 |
| Rural Development | 51,000 | 47,976 | -3,024 |
| Gaeltacht & Islands Development | 59,070 | 55,332 | -3,738 |
| Promotion and Maintenance of the Irish Language | 650 | 600 | -50 |
| North/South Co-operation | 11,500 | 10,726 | -774 |
| Total | 145,000 | 133,175 | -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 priorities for current expenditure in 2009 are reflected in the table below, which summarises the position for my Department's current programme areas:
| Current Programme Area | 2009 Budget Allocation | 2009 REV Allocations | Reduction |
| €000 | €000 | €000 | |
| Administration | 18,778 | 18,347 | -431 |
| Developing Communities | 161,650 | 149,976 | -11,674 |
| Tackling Problem Drug Use | 53,000 | 36,020 | -16,980 |
| Rural Development | 56,760 | 55,446 | -1,314 |
| Gaeltacht & Islands Development | 31,630 | 30,586 | -1,044 |
| Promotion and Maintenance of the Irish Language | 9,972 | 7,774 | -2,198 |
| North/South Co-operation | 46,295 | 44,376 | -1,919 |
| Total | 378,085 | 342,525 | -35,560 |
In relation to the various programme areas of my Department, efforts have been made to minimise the effects on frontline services, where possible. This approach will continue in the context of the ongoing financial management of my Department's Vote for the remainder of the year.
Questions Nos. 41 and 42 answered with Question No. 31.
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