Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 11: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the required 8% reduction in professional fees has been implemented by his Department for 2009; the estimated savings arising from that implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46165/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I can inform the Deputy that following the Government Decision on this matter, all Agencies and areas of my Department were instructed to rigorously implement the 8% reduction in professional fees across the board. The saving from this measure is estimated to be in the region of €3m this year.

Furthermore, a range of administrative efficiencies, including procurement efficiencies achieved through a co-ordinated Sector-wide approach to procurement, were also implemented and reductions were achieved where possible in the cost of goods and services.

The combined savings from the two initiatives are of the order of €10 million across the Vote Group this year.

All expenditure in my Department's Vote Group is reviewed every month by the Department's Financial Management Committee. Expenditure trends are identified and where necessary, corrective measures are put in place. In addition to this high level expenditure control function, each Departmental agency, division and associated body has its own financial management processes which closely monitor expenditure trends on an ongoing basis.