Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 March 2012
112 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of money which will be saved from current expenditure in 2012 from the announced closure and or amalgamation of certain State bodies; if he will specify the quangos that have been abolished to date and those which he intends to abolish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17472/12]
View answerThe radical streamlining of State Bodies is a key deliverable of the Public Service Reform Plan, which was published in November 2011. This streamlining includes the rationalisation of 48 bodies by the end of 2012, as well as the critical review of a further 46 bodies to take place by end June 2012. Details of the bodies involved are set out in Appendices IIa and IIb of the Plan which can be found at: http://reformplan.per.gov.ie/files/2012/01/Public-Service-Reform-28112011.pdf.
While these rationalisations will deliver savings to the taxpayer, the real benefits lie in the simplification of the administrative landscape, thereby ensuring greater democratic accountability, less duplication of effort and more transparent lines of responsibility of public servants. As outlined in the Public Service Reform Plan, savings of 20 million euro in enhanced service efficiencies and value-for-money are envisaged from the rationalisation programme.
With regard to the progress made to date, I refer the Deputy to my answer to Deputy Shane Ross (PQ Ref No: 7802/12) on 14 February 2012. The associated administrative savings from these measures have been taken into consideration in the context of the Revised Estimates for 2012.
