Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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882. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the allocation for his Department; the amount claimed by his Department, that is staff payroll costs, staff subsistence costs and other costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23534/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I understand the Deputy is requesting information on allocations and expenditure for 2019. 

The table below shows the 2019 allocations and expenditures for Salaries, Overtime and Travel and Subsistence for my Department:

My Department had a payroll saving of approximately €2.4 million mainly due to the delays in Brexit throughout 2019 allowing for slower Brexit-related recruitment and savings in shift allowance.

In 2019, my Department exceeded the travel and subsistence vote allocation by €1 million. This arose due to a number of factors:

- an increase in staff numbers,

- additional activities associated with my Department's supervised food production facilities including new facilities coming under my Department's responsibility, increased livestock slaughter numbers and expansion of the dairy herd,

- Increased animal health surveillance work i.e. TB eradication

- Increased farm inspection activity associated with BPS, Pillar II schemes and new schemes. 

My Department’s travel expenditure is continuously monitored and activities that require regular travel are reviewed with a view to reducing travel costs.  Since 2007, expenditure on travel has been reduced by 39% (from €14.7m). These considerable savings have been delivered by deploying technology, improving business processes and rationalising inspections. However, it must be borne in mind that much of the Department’s business takes place on farms and other premises, which are in remote locations.