As part of the Employment Control Framework, which is the mechanism for the management of reduction of overall staff numbers, my Department has agreed staff numbers and annual operational ceilings with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. These relate to the staffing levels of my Department, its offices and agencies for the period to 2014. In general, there is no indication that the reduced staffing levels will directly impinge on overall capacity to effectively oversee the spending of public funds. However, to deliver on the reduced staffing numbers will be, of course, very challenging and will mean delivering services in an even more efficient manner. My Department will continue to work closely with all of its agencies to assist them in meeting the challenges they face in carrying out their respective mandates, including in relation to the oversight of expenditure of public funds.