Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 May 2012
363 Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of State agencies in her Department which were abolished or merged since in 2011; the name and purpose of each one; the amount saved by the merger or abolition; the number planned to be merged or abolished in 2012; the name and purpose of each one; the amount expected to be saved from this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21597/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe three statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Social Welfare Tribunal, the Citizens Information Board and the Pensions Board. In addition, the office of the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of the Department but it does not have a Board. No statutory body under the aegis of the Department has been merged or abolished since 2011.
The report on Public Service Reform proposes the integration of the regulatory functions of the Pensions Board with the Financial Regulator and the merging of the Pensions Ombudsman with the Financial Services Ombudsman. These proposed rationalisations are the subject of a critical review under the Public Service Reform Programme. This review will include identifying any potential savings arising from such an amalgamation. I have recently commissioned the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as an independent expert to review Ireland's pension arrangements. This review has commenced and I expect that the OECD will also comment on the governance structures in the pensions sector.
