Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the minimum and maximum amount he hopes to save with the abolishing of 80 allowances. [44836/12]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total savings expected from cutting 88 public sector allowances for serving staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44867/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 and 282 together.

As part of the next steps of the Allowances Review process, my Department has written to sectoral management instructing them to immediately engage with staff interests with a view to securing their early agreement to the elimination of those departmental allowances payable to current beneficiaries, where no business cases exists to pay those allowances to new beneficiaries.

While it is a matter for Departments to prioritise the allowances to be pursued, my Department identified over 80 allowances for possible priority elimination. Departments have begun to respond to my Department on the request for prioritisation and engage with staff representatives on the issues.

Given the process now underway, it is not appropriate to identify a specific target for savings.