Commenting on this week's Manx Budget, Mr Ronan said the Department had achieved budget reductions of 3% in the current year through a range of operational efficiency savings, income generation measures and some reductions in grants.
The Minister explained:
'Against this backdrop of reducing budgets the Department has focused on protecting the front line services that support the community, environment and economy of the Island. This has been made possible by savings initiated both in previous and the current years, including the amalgamation and restructuring of support services.'
DEFA frontline services include food safety, environmental and housing inspections, pest control, public analyst, animal health controls, tree disease control, fishery regulation and the health and safety at work inspectorate.
The Department's budget of £15.7 million for 2015/16 features a small increase of 0.8% on the previous year, reflecting the fact that is has taken on responsibility for the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate.
Savings of £160,000 on the Countryside Care Scheme represent a further 2% reduction in scheme grant payments in addition to 3% last year and the year before, resulting in a total 8% reduction over three years.
Streamlining of operations at the sawmill has led to significant efficiency savings. There has been an approximate 30% reduction in staff and budget within Forestry, Amenity and Lands over the past 10 years.
Re-structuring of the Forestry team is ongoing and a review to identify any potential outsourcing of operations at sawmill is currently in progress.
The integration of the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate into the Environment Directorate of the Department has enabled a reduction of one senior management post and increased operational efficiencies.
Visitor numbers for the Curraghs Wildlife Park in 2014 were the best since 2005. The team is working to increase efficiency and visitor numbers to reduce the operating deficit.
Cost-neutral stocking of rainbow trout for reservoir anglers for the next five years has been secured by entering into a new five year lease with a private operator.
In the forthcoming year, the Department intends to recover administration costs from campers using the Sulby Claddaghs site and from the recovery of stray dogs.
The Department promotes the use by customers of more efficient on-line systems as they are both more accessible and more efficient to administer. For example, increased use of the on-line Bovine identification and Traceability system (BITS) has been encouraged by the withdrawal of freepost and the levying of charges for continuing use of paper applications.
The on-line horse import licence system has just been launched which makes horse import licences more easily accessible to applicants and more efficient to administer.
Subject to the will of Tynwald, the Department intends to simplify and make more effective the administration of dog ownership. This is proposed to be achieved by replacing the licensing system and requiring dogs to be identified by microchips, which will require an amendment to the Dogs Act 1990.
A new disabled fishing platform providing wheelchair access has been constructed at the Cringle reservoir.
Sea fisheries enforcement work continues, to protect valuable Manx seafood stocks. There have been several successful prosecutions recently.
The Public Analyst's Laboratory has been working with the industry and the Department's Fisheries and Environmental Directorates to monitor domoic acid levels within king scallops and so protect the public from the risk of Amnesic shellfish poisoning.
The Department continues to invest in increased efficiency and on-farm modernisation through the Farm and Horticultural Improvement Scheme (FHIS). A commitment to grow the food and drink sector through the 'Food Matters' strategy will see increased collaboration between the Department, the Department of Economic Development and industry, with around 5% of Countryside Care funds utilised in directly developing this sector.
The Department has completed phases 1 and 2 of the Mill Road, Peel, Food Park infrastructure development and is now moving forward with phase three.
Pan-Irish Sea queen scallop management is being negotiated in conjunction with all four UK fisheries administrations leading to improved management measures to protect stocks across the Irish Sea. This rebuilding of queen scallop stocks within the territorial sea will enable the regaining of Marine Stewardship Council certification and create a sustainable fishery in conjunction with industry. This will form part of the five-year sea fisheries strategy, which is currently being prepared to be taken forward next year to help ensure a more sustainable and economically successful industry.
The Department will continue to protect the countryside through legislation and ownership whilst enabling suitable development and amenity enhancement through public/private partnerships, volunteer groups, probation service and other innovative ways of working. It will also explore the potential of collaborative ventures for the development of Knockaloe for the benefit of the local community and economic development.
Protecting the countryside and wider environment will help as the Department strives for 'Biosphere' status for the Island, and a high environmental quality is appreciated by residents and visitors alike. Positives from this policy include health benefits and support for tourism.
The Minister concluded:
'I am very proud of the Department's staff, who continue to work hard to design and achieve efficiency savings to minimise the effects of reduced resources, both of staff and money, on service provision. In spite of these efforts, however, it should be understood that in some areas the quality and extent of service previously enjoyed is sadly no longer affordable.'
