To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what assessment she has made of the impact of the increase in (i) fuel costs; and (ii) fuel duty on the departmental budget and the realisation of efficiency targets; and what action she has taken to mitigate against these increased costs.

No detailed assessment has yet been carried out in respect of the increase of fuel costs on the DARD budget. Arrangements have, however, been put in place to enable all expenditure pressures identified by budget holders to be brought to the attention of the Departmental Board on a monthly basis. The increase in fuel costs, including the impact of fuel duty, will be identified within the General Administration Expenditure (GAE) budgets allocated within the Department. In the immediate term, budget holders are being requested to manage these pressures within the totality of the GAE budgets. As far as the Department's efficiency savings are concerned, none are directly impacted by the increase in fuel costs.