Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 May 2012
632 Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health the number of State agencies in his Department which were abolished or merged since 2011; the name and purpose of each one; the amount saved by the merger or abolition; the number planned to be merged or abolished in 2012; the name and purpose of each one; the amount expected to be saved from this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21593/12]
View answerIn 2011, the following four agencies were dissolved/subsumed. The extent of saving varies between organisations and the majority of staff were redeployed to other public service bodies. Efficiencies derive from economies of scale and the elimination of duplication in areas such as recruitment, procurement, payroll and ICT systems. Savings also arise from the dissolution of Agency Boards, some of which attracted payment of travel and subsistence and/or Board fees.
|
Agency |
Function |
|
The Office of Tobacco Control (Subsumed into the HSE, 1st January 2011) |
Advised the Minister for Health and advise him or her in the implementation of policies and objectives of the government, on the control and regulation of tobacco products generally |
|
The National Social Work Qualification Board (Subsumed into CORU, 31st March 2011) |
Provided advice to the Minister on matters relating to the qualification of social workers and awarded professional qualifications in social work |
|
The Children Acts Advisory Board (Subsumed into the Minister for Children and youth Affairs, 8th September 2011) |
Advised the Ministers on policy relating to the co-ordinated delivery of services under the Child Care Act, 1991 (care, protection and welfare) and the Childrens Act, 2001 (detention) |
|
The National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery (Subsumed into An Bord Altranais, 31st December 2011) |
Monitored and advised on education and professional development of nurses and midwives |
Currently in 2012, three agencies are being dissolved/subsumed with legislation at various stages of preparation.
|
Agency |
Function |
|
National Cancer Registry Board (To be dissolved and subsumed into the HSE) |
To collect information for use in research into the causes of cancer, in education and information programmes, and in the planning of a national cancer strategy to deliver the best cancer care to the whole population |
|
Opticians Board (to be subsumed into the Health and Social Care Professionals Council) |
The functions of the Board include approval of the education and training of optometrists and dispensing opticians, registration of optometrists and dispensing opticians and control of the practice of optics, in accordance with rules made by the board with the approval of the Minister for Health |
|
Drug Treatment Centre Board (to be dissolved and subsumed into the HSE) |
The function of the Board is to provide effective, high quality client focused treatment for the population it serves |
