State Agencies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 November 2011

Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Ceisteanna (251)

Michael McCarthy

Ceist:

251 Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm the total number of State agencies, independent statutory bodies, State boards or other quangos which currently exist within his Department; if he will provide a breakdown of each, listing in particular full name, location, the total amount of funding allocated to each in 2011 and total staff number; the number of State agencies, independent statutory bodies, State boards or other quangos which have been abolished or wound down since he took office, and the total amount of savings achieved with each closure; the number of State agencies, independent statutory bodies, State boards or other quangos being considered for abolition in the context of budget 2012; if he will furnish a list of the organisations under consideration, specifying in particular their annual running costs, primary function, and staff number in tabular form; if there is a rationalisation programme in place within his Department in respect of State agencies, independent statutory bodies, State boards or other quangos for the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34904/11]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar)

The Government is committed to a radical streamlining of State bodies and is currently considering proposals for doing so. I expect it will be in a position shortly to announce its plans in this regard.

In relation to my Department and its agencies, I have already taken a number of actions to date on rationalisation and I am working on progressing further proposals. These are detailed in my reply to Question 586 on 8 November 2011.

There are currently 33 State agencies within the aegis of my Department. I provided a full list of these in my reply to Questions 624 and 645 on 25th October 2011. The amount of central funding, if any, provided to each agency is set out in the Book of Estimates. The details sought by the Deputy on location, staff numbers, and running costs are available in the annual reports and accounts of the individual agencies.