Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 November 2012
137. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of bodies that have been abolished or amalgamated by his Department out of the list of bodies listed in the public service reform document of 17 November 2011; the savings or cost of this in 2012; the projected savings or cost of this programme in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50542/12]
View answerIn the context of the Government’s Public Sector Reform document of November 2011 very significant progress has been achieved in relation to the Bodies under the aegis of my Department. The Bodies that are involved in the rationalisation programme are listed in full in Table 1 as well as the savings anticipated. I would like in particular to point to significant reforms underway in a number of the Bodies listed on which work is being progressed. This includes reforms such as the merging of the Competition Authority with the National Consumer Agency; a major programme of reform in relation to the rationalisation of the employment rights Bodies to reduce these in number from five to two; Government agreement to dissolve the existing County Enterprise Boards and create a “one-stop-shop” micro enterprise support structure; the integration of Forfás into the Department in order to strengthen the Department’s capacity to develop and implement enterprise policy and the decision in principle taken by Government on 8 May 2012 to separate Shannon Airport (SA) from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and bring it together with Shannon Development to form a new entity with a commercial mandate in public ownership, thereby achieving the re-alignment of tourism and enterprise support functions in the Shannon region.
Table 1
|
Name of Body |
Savings/cost in 2012/2013 |
Current Status |
|
County and City Enterprise Board (35) |
It is to be expected that over time there will be savings resulting from the removal of costs associated with the individual Company status of each CEB, use of shared services, reduced rental costs associated with the relocation of some offices etc. However initial direct savings will be modest as it could take some years to realise these savings due to existing leasing arrangements etc. |
The Government has approved the restructuring of the enterprise support model for the micro and small business sectors. This restructuring will include the dissolution of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs), the transfer of their functions, assets and liabilities to Enterprise Ireland (EI) and the development of a new Small and Micro Business Division within Enterprise Ireland (EI) as a centre of excellence in the provision of supports to the small and micro enterprise sectors, and the establishment of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) to provide a “one-stop-shop” for small businesses within Local Authorities. A high level Implementation Working Group (IWG) chaired by DJEI has been established to oversee the implementation of the Government decision. The detailed arrangements for the new structures are well advanced by the IWG, including a draft of a comprehensive Service Level Agreement between EI and Local Authorities, which will underpin the new model. A project plan, which sets out clear milestones and timelines for implementation, including the legislation necessary to give formal effect to the new arrangements, is being finalised. A Memorandum to Government seeking approval to draft the General Scheme of an Industrial Development (Micro Enterprise and Small Business) Bill will be brought in Mid-November. |
|
Competition Authority and National Consumer Agency |
Initial set-up costs will be incurred. No savings in whole-time equivalent (WTE) numbers. |
The legislation to give effect to the merger of the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency is currently on the A list of the Government's legislative programme. It is hoped that the legislation will be published by mid-January 2013. |
|
Labour Court National Employment Rights Authority Labour Relations Commission Employment Appeals Tribunal Equality Tribunal |
The annual cost of the Workplace Relations Services amounted to some €20m in 2010. It is expected that significant savings, in terms of both reductions in staff numbers & increased efficiency & productivity, will be generated by the end of 2013 by which time the majority of the Workplace Relations Reform Programme will have been implemented. Work has commenced on identifying and capturing on-going pay and non-pay savings. |
A major reform programme is underway to replace the five existing employments rights bodies with two. Four of the existing bodies – the Employment Appeals Tribunal, the National Employment Rights Authority, the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court – are currently within the remit of the Department. One – the Equality Tribunal – is currently within the remit of the Minister for Justice and Equality. In terms of delivering the reform a number of important priority actions have been successfully delivered, including the development of a: Single Contact Portal A new single contact portal called “Workplace Relations Customer Services” is fully operational since the beginning of 2012 and provides a single point of entry into the system for employment rights and industrial relations information. Single Complaint Form A Single Complaint Form that deals with over 100 first instance complaints was launched on the 4th of January 2012 replacing 30 forms previously in use. Workplace Relations Website The new interim workplace relations website www.workplacerelations.ie went live on 4th January 2012. This website brings together, in one place, information on all aspects of employment rights and industrial relations. Early Resolution Service Delivery of a pilot Early Resolution Service has commenced. This service will assist parties to a dispute to resolve the issue themselves with the assistance of a Case Resolution Officer. Consultation The Minister has undertaken two public consultation processes and published two policy papers setting out in detail how the reform will be delivered. He engaged with the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in July 2012. Legislation A draft Scheme of the Workplace Relations Bill, which will put the reforms on a statutory footing, has been prepared and the Cabinet approved the priority drafting of the Bill in July 2012. |
|
Forfás |
The integration of Forfás into the Department is not driven by cost savings, but it will improve efficiencies/synergies between the Department and Forfás. It is envisaged that some savings will arise when the integration process is complete, especially in the Corporate Services area.
|
An Implementation Group, comprising senior management from the Department, Forfás, and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, is overseeing the integration project and meets on a regular basis. An Executive style Board has also been put in place in Forfás to oversee the transfer of the agency’s functions and responsibilities. Good progress is being made in identifying and resolving issues that need to be addressed. Completion of the project will require the enactment of legislation to transfer Forfás’s functions. |
|
Advisory Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (ASCTI) |
ACSTI operates as a sub-board of Forfás; all costs are met from the Forfás allocation. |
The role of the ACSTI is being reviewed in the context of the amalgamation of Forfás into the Department and appropriate arrangements for supporting the Research Prioritisation Exercise. |
|
National Competitiveness Council (NCC) |
There is no direct funding allocated to NCC. The Secretariat to the NCC is currently provided by Forfás, and will be absorbed into the Department as part of the integration of Forfás. |
The NCC will continue to operate as an independent advisory body with a refreshed mandate and potentially some changes in membership. Secretariat services will continue to be provided by Forfás/Departmental staff following the integration of Forfás into DJEI. |
|
Shannon Development |
This is a restructuring and merger of Shannon Development and Shannon Airport. As Shannon Development is self-financing there is no cost saving in either 2012 or 2013. There is an elimination of duplication of roles between Shannon Development, Enterprise Agencies and Fáilte Ireland in the region. |
On 8th May 2012, the Government decided in principle to separate Shannon Airport (SA) from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and bring it together with Shannon Development to form a new entity with a commercial mandate in public ownership. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation established a Steering Group to bring forward proposals for the implementation of that decision. Two Task Forces have also been established; the Aviation Business Development Task Force and the Change Management Task Force. The Steering Group will be reporting back to Government with proposals to implement the Government decision before the end of this month. |
|
Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) to the Government |
The 2012 budget allocation for the Office of the CSA was €95k (this reflects 8/12 of the annual allocation as the CSA contract ceased in August 2012). In addition, two research staff, at a pay cost of €135K were available, on loan from Forfás, to support the Office. |
The Office of the CSA was included in the bodies due for critical review under the Public Sector Reform initiative. Following a Government decision on 11/10/12 to abolish the separate Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA), the Director General of Science Foundation Ireland has taken on the role of Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government in addition to his existing role |
