Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 July 2012
281 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the timeframe for rationalisation of State agencies; the progress that has been made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36799/12]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the Public Service Reform Plan, published in November last year, demonstrated the Government's commitment to reform and the pursuit of efficiencies by deciding (i) to proceed with the rationalisation of 48 bodies by the end of 2012 and (ii) the critical review of a further 46 bodies by the end of June 2012. Details of the bodies involved are set out in Appendices IIa and IIb of the Plan.
With regard to the progress made on the rationalisation of the 48 bodies by end 2012, while my Department is monitoring progress on the implementation of these measures on a quarterly basis, questions regarding the approach and progress of individual measures is a matter for each Department and should therefore be directed to the relevant Ministers.
In terms of my own Department, the Government decided in the Public Service Reform Plan that that the Commission on Public Service Appointments should be merged with the Office of the Ombudsman. This merger took place on an administrative basis with effect from 1 October 2011. It is envisaged that the necessary legislative measures to give full statutory effect to the merger will be included in an Ombudsman Amendment Bill, proposals for which are being prepared by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Regarding the critical reviews of 46 bodies, my Department is considering the responses received to date by Departments. Following this consideration I intend to bring a Memorandum to Government requesting a decision on how best to proceed with the implementation of the rationalisation programme.
