Savings at State agencies to achieve cuts

STATE agencies attached to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food — rather than production capacity investment — will bear the brunt of a €9.1 million savings target as part of the Government’s spending measures to save €440m this year and €1 billion next year.

This year, savings of €5.4m will be sought from among these agencies, which include Coillte, the Irish National Stud, Teagasc, Bord Bia, Coford, and BIM.

Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith said savings of €1.04m will be sought in the administrative budget of his department, while a further saving of €2.68m will be found on the cost of consultancies, PR and payroll costs. Further savings will be sought next year.

He will consider specific proposals, including staff costs of both pay and non-pay, and the possibility of further staff reductions, to realise the expenditure savings this year. Savings next year will be considered in the context of the preparation of the 2009 Estimates.

Mr Smith said he will be “examining every aspect of my department’s programme of schemes and services with a view to ensuring that expenditure is fully justified and that we get the best possible value for public investment in these sectors”.

In response, IFA President Padraig Walshe said he appreciated Mr Smith’s commitment to the ongoing schemes and programmes to enhance the competitiveness of farming and the food sector.

All savings in the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs will also come from administrative pay. There will be no change in the amount of money available for the various programmes.