John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 393: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amount of unspent money returned by his Department to the Department of Finance each year since 2007; the departmental budget for each year since 2007; the projects for which this money was originally earmarked in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21775/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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A substantial proportion of expenditure under the Department's Vote comprises schemes and activities which are subject to external factors such as demand from beneficiaries, market and economic factors, animal disease incidence and the pace at which capital investment and research projects are completed by the beneficiaries of grant aid. Accordingly, savings on the funding provided in the Vote can and do arise due to lower than anticipated drawdown on various demand-led schemes. Conversely, the need for additional spending under particular headings can also arise.

The following are the relevant figures for the years 2007, 2008 and 2009.

* reflects transfer of fisheries to Department in October 2007.

** includes €9m budget adjustment implemented by Government during 2008.

The following are the Vote allocations on which there was an under spend (main items)

2007

Administration €1m.

Animal Health (disease control) and Welfare €29m.

Market Support technical costs €11m

Compensatory Allowances €3m

REPs €49m

Early Retirement and Installation Aid schemes €21m

On farm investment grant schemes €13m

Forestry €6m

Fisheries €12m

BIM €15m

Other €4m

Savings were offset by additional expenditure on Bord Bia and food aid.

2008

Administration €8m.

Research €6m.

Animal Health (disease control) and Welfare €16m

Market Support technical costs €5m.

Compensatory Allowances €1m

REPs €19m

Early Retirement and Installation Aid schemes €11m

Forestry €5m

Fisheries €4m

State bodies €9m

Savings were offset by additional spending on the Farm Waste Management Scheme and food aid.

2009

Administration €8m.

Animal Health (disease control) and Welfare €16m

Market Support technical costs €3m.

REPs €28m

Early Retirement and Installation Aid schemes €3m

Fisheries €4m

State bodies €4m

Other €3m

Savings were offset by additional spending on the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.