Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the full extent of cost-cutting measures undertaken by his Department which arise directly from the commitment entered into by his predecessors in the context of the Memorandum of Understanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11900/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Vote for my Department is one of 5 Votes in the Justice and Equality Sector Group for estimates and expenditure purposes. As the Deputy will be aware, the Justice and Equality Sector has had to sustain reductions in budgets and resources in order to contribute to the rectification of our national finances. The details of the expenditure reductions for the entire sector are contained in the estimates material published for Budget 2012 and Budget 2013 and in broad monetary terms, the current expenditure reductions come to €100 million in 2012 and a further €62.3 million in 2013. All areas of the Department and the entire sector are engaged in a comprehensive reform programme and a range of cost reduction measures have been put in place. The overriding principle is to seek to ensure that essential public services are delivered in as efficient and cost effective a manner as possible notwithstanding the reductions in resources.