Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the total budget by his Department, for each of the past three years, for the Traveller policy division; if all funding was drawn down in each year; the headings under which it was drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46040/10]

Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Traveller Policy Division became part of my Department in June 2010. Prior to this, the Division formed part of the then Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Funding for the Traveller Policy Division forms part of the Equality Monitoring/Consultative Committees subhead. The portion of this subhead allocated to the Traveller Policy Division for the past three years is as follows:

2008 - €1.010m

2009 - €826,000

2010 - €417,600

Of this funding, €860,000 was drawn down in 2008 and €763,000 was drawn down in 2009. The Deputy will appreciate that I am not yet in a position to give a final figure for 2010. However, I am informed by officials in my Department that it is expected that the majority of the funds allocated will be drawn down this year.

In addition, an allocation of €1.4m in dormant accounts funding was approved for Traveller projects, to be drawn down over the period 2009/2010. Of this allocation, a balance of €496,044 remains to be drawn down.

I am informed that the savings I have outlined were primarily as a result of slower than anticipated drawdown of funds for local projects administered by Pobal and also a reduction of 8% in Pobal administration fees.

My Department's Traveller Policy Division is responsible for coordinating policy in relation to Travellers. Funding from this Division is used principally to support interagency working through the City and County Development Boards and the work of the National Traveller Monitoring and Advisory Committee. Funding support for local projects is administered by Pobal through the Traveller Interagency Fund.

The Traveller Policy Division also funds mediation and related initiatives, especially in the light of certain serious situations which have arisen around the country in recent years. Funding is also provided for positive communications measures such as Traveller Pride Week, in line with a commitment in Towards 2016 from all of the social partners to give "concentrated attention" to achieving progress on Traveller issues, including "...measures to improve communication between Travellers and the general population".

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the basis on which he proposes to have administrative efficiencies in his Department leading to savings of €10 million in 2011 and €18 million in a full year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47125/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to the savings outlined in section B.17 of the Summary of 2011 Budget Measures. The basis for these efficiencies is set out in greater detail in the recently published National Recovery Plan 2011-2014. For the Deputy's convenience, I have reproduced the relevant table from the plan below.

As can be seen from the table, the achievement of the necessary savings is a matter that extends broadly across my Department's Vote. To the maximum extent possible, the savings will include efficiencies, which will be sought not only in my Department itself, but also within the agencies and groups that it funds.