I refer the Deputy to my reply to Dáil Question No. 583 of 18 September 2012 in which I set out the actions being taken by my Department to reduce the administrative burden on business.
My Department also coordinates the cross-Government measurement and reduction exercise towards the 25% target by the end of 2012. A project to measure the burden imposed by regulation under the responsibility of seven Departments and Revenue was initiated in September 2011. The project is being carried out in two phases or clusters. Cluster A consists of Revenue and the Departments of Social Protection, and Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Cluster B consists of the Departments of Transport, Tourism and Sport; Health; Environment, Community and Local Government; Agriculture, Food & Marine, and Public Expenditure and Reform.
Each participating Department has responsibility for measuring the relevant administrative burdens arising from the legislation under its responsibility. It must then plan how it will achieve the remaining reductions to reach the target and report to Government with its Simplification Plan. My Department engaged consultants to provide training for Departments in the Standard Cost Model, an internationally recognized method of measuring administrative burdens on business. In addition, my Department provides operational support to Departments as they carry out the measurement exercise.
The Revenue’s report on its administrative burden reductions, which have reached the 25% target, has been published on its website. The Department of Social Protection intend to publish its report shortly. The remaining participating Departments are expected to report by end 2012.
The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has already achieved a 24.5% reduction in the areas of Company Law, Employment Law and Health and Safety Law. This has been achieved, in particular, due to the modernisation work of the Companies Registration Office and the Health and Safety Authority.
The Central Statistics Office has achieved a 30% reduction in measured burdens, significantly beyond the target.
