Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 366: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, under the North-South cooperation heading, the reason there is a 6% decrease in the 2011 budget as compared to the 2010 budget. [47246/10]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 367: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, under the equality heading, the reasons for a 9% decrease in Budget 2011 as compared to Budget 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47247/10]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 368: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the reasons, under the disability heading, there has been a 13% decrease in Budget 2011 as against Budget 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47248/10]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 369: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the reasons for the reduction in the Gaeltacht and island development heading of Budget 2011 as against Budget 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47249/10]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 370: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason for the changes in the rural development heading of Budget 2011 as against Budget 2010 under each subheading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47250/10]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the reasons, under the tackling drugs use heading in Budget 2011, there is a 7% decrease as against Budget 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47251/10]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 372: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the reasons, under the developing communities heading of Budget 2011, there is a 16% decrease in costs as compared to the 2010 estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47252/10]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 373: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the reasons, under the administration heading of Budget 2011, there is a 15% increase in costs as compared to the 2010 Estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47253/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 366 to 373 inclusive, together

As the Deputy is aware, in the current economic circumstances, we are faced with difficult decisions. The Government has considered a number of measures in the context of the National Recovery Plan 2011-14 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.

Taking into account the recent Supplementary Estimate and the full year funding associated with functions transferred into and out of the Department during 2010, gross funding for my Department is reduced by a total of 13% in 2011 - current by 6% and capital by 28%.

Within this context, my primary concern is to make every effort to ensure that the daily front-line services provided with funding from my Department are protected, especially those focused on the needs of the most socially deprived communities.

In our current financial circumstances, it is clear that objectives will have to be pursued with less resources than previously. However, we will continue to strive to achieve good outcomes and value for money notwithstanding these constraints. Every saving that can be made from cutting back on overheads will be pursued so that the urban, rural, Gaeltacht and island communities we serve retain, to the greatest extent possible, the services that have been developed in partnership with them over the years.

Details as to the manner in which the funding will be allocated between various programmes will be published in due course in the Revised Estimates Volume.