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Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 January 2014

Tuesday, 21 January 2014

Questions (293)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

293. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 22 of 9 October 2013, if he will provide an update on the level of rationalisation that has taken place in State bodies; and the status of the mergers of the Valuation Office, the Property Registration Authority, Ordnance Survey Ireland, State Laboratory and the Forensic Science Laboratory. [2407/14]

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Written answers

The rationalisation of State bodies is a key element of this Government's reform programme. As the Deputy is aware, in November 2011, the Government set out 2 commitments in relation to agency rationalisation:

- to implement 48 measures. All of these (involving over 100 bodies) either have been fully delivered or will be delivered this year, apart from the small number where the Government decided on reflection not to proceed (viz. the rationalisation concerning the National Cancer Registry, and the proposed merger of the Commission for Aviation Regulation and the Irish Aviation Authority); and

- to critically review proposals for a further 46 rationalisation measures. In late 2012, following detailed consideration of these critical reviews, the Government decided to implement 25 agency rationalisation measures (involving more than a further 100 State bodies). Work on these is well advanced; some are already completed and as set out in the Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016 which I launched last week the remainder will be delivered during 2014.

My Department monitors the implementation of the measures on a quarterly basis and publishes these updates. The latest information, which details the progress to end Quarter 4 2013, can be found on my Department's website at http://per.gov.ie/summary-of-agency-rationalisation-measures-as-at-january-2014/

The Deputy asks about a number of specific measures that are in progress.

The proposed merger of the Valuation Office, the Property Registration Authority and Ordnance Survey Ireland was one of the proposals to be critically reviewed. That review was completed in 2012 and, on foot of the review, the Government decided to proceed with the measure. Work on the implementation is well underway. It will require legislation, and the General Scheme of a Bill is expected to be brought to Government by mid-year. In the meantime, the merger is being progressed on an administrative basis and, to facilitate this, ministerial responsibility for the Valuation Office and Ordnance Survey Ireland will be transferred to the Minister for Justice and Equality.

The Deputy has also asked about the State Laboratory and the Forensic Science Laboratory, which also were part of the critical review process. Again, that critical review was completed in 2012, following which the Government decided to implement a rationalisation measure which involves placing the Forensic Science Laboratory within the ambit of the State Laboratory for professional leadership purposes, while allowing that the Forensic Science Laboratory will remain within the criminal justice system for operational purposes. Work on this measure is progressing.

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