The radical streamlining of State Bodies was identified as a key deliverable of the Public Service Reform Plan which included 48 rationalisation measures to be implemented by the end of 2012, as well as a further 46 critical reviews to take place by the end of June 2012.
On 31 October 2012, I updated my cabinet colleagues in relation to the agency rationalisation programme, which included progress on the merger of the Commission on Public Service Appointments with the Ombudsman’s Office, which are under the aegis of my Department. I am glad to say that this merger has been completed and is legislated for in the Ombudsman Amendment Act. From the outset I have maintained that the real benefit from the rationalisation of State agencies will be a less crowded administrative landscape resulting in greater democratic accountability, less duplication of effort and clearer lines of responsibility. As this measure was completed on an administrative basis on 1 October 2010, any potential savings from the measure would have been taken into account in the overall consideration of the 2012 Revised Estimates for the CPSA and the Office of the Ombudsman and was reflected in their respective allocations.
Regarding the further rationalisation measures resulting from the critical review process and which are to be implemented in 2013, I refer the Deputy to PQ 51433/12 answered on Wednesday 21st November.
