asked the Minister for the Environment if he is conducting an audit of paperwork requirements imposed by his Department, or by agencies under his aegis, on business; if so, when the audit commenced; the named officer, if any, in charge of the audit; if any report thereon has yet been presented to the Minister for Industry and Commerce; if so, the contents thereof; if any practices or regulations have yet been altered as a result of the audit; if so, the details thereof; if he has prepared any report on the compliance costs to industry of legislation being prepared by his Department; the way in which these reports compare in content, scope or purpose with reports on this subject already required by decisions of the previous Government; and if he will outline the subjects being covered by the audit now being conducted in his Department.
Written Answers. - Paperwork Requirements Imposed on Business.
25.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply given by the Minister for Industry and Commerce to his Question No. 97 on 31 May 1988. That outlined the position generally regarding the review of statutory and information requirements and new compliance cost assessment procedures.
The review in this Department is still in progress and, accordingly, a report has not yet been submitted to the Minister for Industry and Commerce. It is being co-ordinated by a principal officer in the Department's general and planning division.
Compliance cost assessments will be carried out, as standard practice, in the case of all new or amending legislation and regulations.