Dáil Éireann - Volume 633 - 07 March, 2007

Written Answers. - Departmental Estimates.

Mr. Howlin Mr. Howlin

649

Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the rate of inflation has now reached 5.2% and that the increase in the Estimates for his Department was only 4.6% and that this represents a reduction in real terms on the 2006 [649] estimates; his plans to ensure that cutbacks in defence spending do not occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8881/07]

Mr. O’Dea Mr. O’Dea

  Mr. O’Dea: The gross 2007 Estimate (capital and current) for the Defence Vote represents an increase of 4.9% on the 2006 Estimate and an increase of 6.4% on actual expenditure in 2006. The corresponding percentage increases for the Army Pensions Vote are 5.3% and 4.4%, respectively.

The Department of Finance forecast for Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation for 2007 is an annual average increase of 4.1%. It should be noted that a significant portion of the increase in CPI inflation during the past year is due to increases in interest rates, which have no bearing on defence expenditure.

Question No. 101 answered with Question No. 90.

Question No. 102 answered with Question No. 88.

Question No. 103 answered with Question No. 90.

Question No. 104 answered with Question No. 95.

Dáil Éireann 633 Written Answers. Departmental Estimates.

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