Department of Finance - Government of Ireland

Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs Vote Group
Commentary

Overview:
The proposals submitted by the Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs identified measures totalling €18.9m which would need to be taken in order to contain expenditure within the approved pre-Budget Estimate.

The Committee identified additional measures which had the potential to generate a further €36m. Implementation of all these measures would result in an allocation of €286m.

Additional comments:
Community & Local Development - The Committee believes that there is an urgent need to reexamine the range of schemes in the Community and Local Development areas which appear to have similar or overlapping objectives. The aim should be to rationalise schemes and delivery mechanisms in order to achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness from the resources committed in this area. In the course of its work the Committee has noted that such activities are underway across a range of different Vote areas. The Committee is of the view that the new Departmental structure provides an opportunity to initiate such a fundamental review.

Western Development - The Committee believes that the activities of the Western Development Commission overlap and duplicate those carried out by the County Enterprise Boards, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Enterprise Ireland and should, accordingly, be abolished.

Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs Vote Group
Summary of Committee's proposals
2002 REV (Amended Estimate)*			310.63
Gross ELS figure for Vote Group (includes transfer of programme functions)			341.16
Gross Pre-Budget target (PBT) for Vote Group			322.29
Savings below ELS required to reach Pre-Budget target (share of €900m)			18.87
Gross savings proposed by the Committee to contribute to €900m target			54.76
Proposed Revised Gross Allocation (as per Table 1)			286.40
Proposed Revised Gross Allocation post transfer of administrative functions (as per Table 2)			258.13


Estimate bid submitted by the Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs Group (in line with pre-Budget target)		322.29	2003 Proposed Allocation for each subhead

*Plus additional pressures* *which Committee accepts must be met:*
	Administrative subheads	0.30
	Total Additions	0.30

	*Estimate bid including pressures*	*322.59*

*Less savings* *proposed by the Committee*

Subhead	Department of Community Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs (Vote 41)
A 1 - A8	Administrative Budget efficiency dividend	0.32	43.71
E	Scéimeanna Feabhsuchán (E)	4.00	7.99
F	Scéimeanna Cultúra (E)	1.00	4.60
H3	Údarás Foirgnimh (E)	4.00	11.23
J	Foras Teanga (E)	2.00	12.42
Y9 (M9)	CLÁR (see text)	5.00	7.22
Y14 (U)	Community & Voluntary (see text)	2.81	32.00
X	Islands (E)	2.33	8.48
Y4/Y5 (F1/F2)	Abolish Western Development Commission and wind up Investment Fund (see text)	4.10	3.37
Y11 (E2)	CAIT - Community Access to Info. Technology (E)	1.63	3.00
Y12 (G(4))	Summer jobs (E)	4.00	0.00
Y1 (D1)	Local Development / Social Inclusion (see text)	5.00	40.14
	Total savings	36.19

	Revised Gross Allocation	286.40

	(E) refers to Estimating Savings


Proposed Revised Gross Allocation following decisions of Committee			286.40

Administrative Budget Adjustments
	Impact of transfer of functions		-28.27

Proposed Revised Gross Allocation post transfer of functions			258.13
* For comparison purposes, the 2002 REV figure reflects the impact of the transfer of programme functions for a full 12 month period. The 2002 figures reflect the impact of the transfer of administrative budgets from June, 2002