As with all recommendations of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes relevant to my Department, I am examining the relevant recommendations and evaluating the potential impact on the provision of services to enterprise and on my efforts to protect and promote employment.
Since the recommendations impact on the responsibilities of several Government Departments, the views of those Departments need to be taken fully into account. In addition, as the objective of the Special Group was to secure Exchequer savings in the short term, it is essential that a realistic and fully informed assessment of all potential savings can be arrived at before any decision is taken towards rationalisation of the bodies concerned.