Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 38: 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 Budget 2009, will be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23853/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 44: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his priorities for expenditure by his Department for the remainder of 2009 in view of the ongoing economic downturn and the social issues arising therefrom; the way he will address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23916/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 135: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his proposals to respond to the issues arising from the economic downturn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24017/09]

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

I propose to take Questions No. 38, 44 and 135 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 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 on the website of the Department of Finance (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 published 2009 Budget allocations for my Department's capital programme. A table summarising the position in this regard will be circulated with the Official Report.

TABLE: 2009 Budget allocations for the Department's capital programme

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 published 2009 Budget allocations for my Department's current programme. The following table summarises the position in this regard. TABLE: 2009 Budget allocations for the Department's current programme

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.