Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 January 2013
8. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the date on which he will publish an updated list of State agencies and organisations that will be rationalised or amalgamated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2813/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the radical streamlining of State bodies is a key deliverable of the public service reform plan published in November 2011. This streamlining included 48 rationalisation measures to be implemented by the end of 2012, as well as a further 46 critical reviews to take place by the end of June 2012. Details of the bodies involved are set out in Appendices IIa and IIb of the plan, which can be found on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s website.
With regard to the 48 agency rationalisation measures outlined in Appendix IIa of the public service reform plan, which were already decided on by the Government, significant progress has been made by the responsible parent Departments on the implementation of these measures. In just one case the Government has decided not to proceed with the measure at this time, namely, the proposal to absorb the national cancer registry into the Department of Health. All the others are proceeding or have been completed.
The Deputy is inquiring about the outcome of the 46 critical reviews which were undertaken during last year as part of the public service reform plan. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform updated his Cabinet colleagues on 31 October 2012 on the status of these 46 critical reviews of further potential agency rationalisation measures. The outcome from these reviews are listed in the table, which will be made available to Deputies along with a copy of this reply. Broadly speaking, 24 of the critical reviews, involving a total of 116 bodies, recommended proceeding with merger/rationalisation. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform requested his Cabinet colleagues to bring forward a timeline for full implementation of these by the end of 2013. Ten reviews did not recommend proceeding with the proposed actions. The Minister has asked these Departments to bring forward alternative proposals to improve shared services, operational synergies and so forth between the bodies mentioned, where appropriate. Four reviews are not fully finalised and eight reviews were deferred due to wider external factors. These reviews are predominantly in the health sector and will be considered in due course.
|
Ref No. (See Appendix IIb of Public Service Reform Plan) |
Lead Department |
State Body |
Proposal |
Decision |
|
22 |
Department of Health |
Mental Health Commission |
Absorb into Patient Safety Authority |
Review Deferred |
|
23 |
Department of Health |
National Paediatric Hospital Development Board |
Dependent on outcome of decision on hospital |
Review Deferred |
|
24 |
Department of Health |
Health Information and Quality Authority |
The Programme for Government envisages the creation of a Patient Safety Authority incorporating HIQA with a licensing role |
Review Deferred |
|
25 |
Department of Health |
National Treatment Purchase Fund |
The Programme for Government states that a new Hospital Care Purchase Agency will combine with the National Treatment Purchase Fund as part of the transition to a universal health insurance model |
Review Deferred |
|
26 |
Department of Health |
Health Insurance Authority |
Future to be considered in context of proposed move to a system of Universal Health Care |
Review Deferred |
|
27 |
Department of Health |
Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council |
Merge into Health and Social Care Professionals Council |
Review Deferred |
|
33 |
Department of Justice and Equality |
Office of the Data Protection Commissioner |
Amalgamate with the Office of the Ombudsman |
Review Deferred |
|
35 |
Department of Justice and Equality |
Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests |
Subsume Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests into proposed Office of the Charities Regulator |
Review Deferred |
|
Ref No. (See Appendix IIb of Public Service Reform Plan) |
Lead Department |
State Body |
Proposal |
Decision |
|
16 |
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform / Department of Finance |
NDFA |
Merge into OPW / National Procurement Service |
The critical review has been finalised and consultations regarding how best to implement its recommendations are ongoing |
|
20 |
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
Development Education Advisory Committee |
Role being reviewed as part of review of 2006 White Paper on ODA included in Programme for Government |
Ongoing |
|
43 |
Department of Social Protection |
Pensions Board |
Integrate functions with Financial Regulator. |
Review ongoing and due to be completed shortly |
|
44 |
Department of Social Protection |
Pensions Ombudsman |
Merge with the Financial Services Ombudsman. |
Review ongoing and due to be completed shortly |
|
Ref No. (See Appendix IIb of Public Service Reform Plan) |
Department |
State Body |
Proposal |
Decision |
|
2 |
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food |
Irish Maritime Development Office |
Subsume into the Marine Institute |
The IMDO already, from an administrative perspective, operates under a single subhead with the Marine Institute. No further action needed. |
|
4, 5 |
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources |
Commission for Communication Regulation and Broadcasting Authority of Ireland |
Merge CCR and BAI |
Proceeding - Merge back-office administrative functions with the BAI |
|
6 |
Department of Education and Skills |
Expert Group on Future Skills Needs |
Absorb into Department |
Proceeding |
|
7 |
Department of Children and Youth Affairs |
National Education and Welfare Board |
Merge into Child & Family Support Agency |
Proceeding |
|
8 |
Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation |
Advisory Council for Science, Technology and Innovation |
Absorb into Department |
Proceeding |
|
9 |
Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation |
National Competitiveness Council |
Absorb into Department |
Proceeding |
|
10 |
Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation |
Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government |
Absorb into SFI |
Proceeding |
|
11 |
Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation |
Shannon Development |
Review future role of Shannon Development |
The Government has decided that a State owned entity comprising the Shannon Airport Authority and Shannon Development be established. |
|
12 |
Department of Environment, Community & Local Government |
Environmental Protection Agency / Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland |
Merge EPA and the RPII |
Proceeding – This action may require a longer time-frame than end-2013 |
|
13 |
Department of Environment, Community & Local Government |
Local Authorities |
On going rationalisation of Local Authority structures |
Proceeding - Rationalisation of Local Authorities structures was announced on 15 October 2012 |
|
15 |
Department of Environment, Community & Local Government |
Buildings Regulations Advisory Board |
Absorb into Department |
Proceeding |
|
17 |
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform |
Valuation Office |
Merge the Valuation Office, the Property Registration Authority and Ordnance Survey |
(see 30-32 below) D/Justice and Equality is lead Department |
|
19 |
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform |
State Laboratory |
Merge Forensic Science Laboratory into State Laboratory |
Proceeding – The Forensic Science Laboratory will be brought within the ambit of the State Laboratory for professional leadership purposes while remaining within the criminal justice system for operational purposes |
|
29 |
Department of Justice and Equality |
Reception and Integration Agency, Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner & Refugee Appeals Tribunal |
Rationalise various Refugee Structures |
Proceeding |
|
30-32 |
Department of Justice and Equality |
Property Registration Authority |
Merge the Valuation Office, the Property Registration Authority and Ordnance Survey |
Proceeding |
|
34 |
Department of Justice and Equality |
Prison Visiting Committees |
Reduce or merge Visiting Committees as there is now a Prison Inspectorate |
Proceeding |
|
39 |
Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht |
Chester Beatty Library |
Develop shared services opportunities with other cultural institutions |
Proceeding |
|
40 |
Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht |
Placenames Commission / An Choimisiúin Logainmneacha |
Absorb function within Department |
Proceeding |
|
42 |
Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht |
Culture Ireland |
Merge the functions of Culture Ireland into Department |
Proceeding |
|
45 |
Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation (Cont.) |
Companies Registration Office |
Merge the Companies Registration Office and the Office of the Registrar of Friendly Societies |
These bodies already, from an administrative perspective, operate as one office under a single subhead in the Department’s Vote. No further action required |
|
46 |
Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation |
Office of the Registrar of Friendly Societies |
Merge with the Companies Registration Office |
See 45 above |
|
Ref No. (See Appendix IIb of Public Service Reform Plan) |
Lead Department |
State Body |
Proposal |
Decision |
|
1 |
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food |
National Milk Agency |
Abolish or merge with Bord Bia |
Not proceeding |
|
3 |
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food |
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (B.I.M.) |
Transfer functions of BIM into the Department |
Not proceeding |
|
14 |
Department of Environment, Community & Local Government |
Local Government Audit Service |
Merge into the Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General |
Not proceeding |
|
18 |
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform |
Disciplinary Code of Appeals Board and the Independent Mediator |
Abolish/merge with new employment rights body |
Not proceeding |
|
21 |
Department of the Taoiseach |
NESC |
Abolish / disband along with the other bodies in the group (NESDO) having regard to the duplication of functions with the ESRI and the economic advisory role of the new Irish Fiscal Advisory Council |
Not proceeding |
|
28 |
Department of Justice and Equality |
Property Services Regulation Authority |
Merge with the Private Residential Tenancy Board |
Not proceeding |
|
36 |
Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport |
Medical Bureau of Road Safety |
Merge with State Laboratory |
Not proceeding – The MBRS will be considered in time as part of the future configuration of the State Laboratory |
|
37 |
Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport |
Railway Safety Commission |
Amalgamate as part of establishing a single transport safety body comprising Road Safety Authority, Railway Safety Commission, and the Maritime Safety Directorate |
Not proceeding |
|
38 |
Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport |
Road Safety Authority |
Amalgamate as part of establishing a single transport safety body comprising Road Safety Authority, Railway Safety Commission, and the Maritime Safety Directorate |
Not proceeding |
|
41 |
Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht |
Heritage Council |
Merge the functions of the Council into Department |
Not proceeding – While a merger will not proceed, a reduced, pro bono board will be put in place and statutory committees abolished |
I do not blame the Minister, but I asked for an update on this issue. What the Minister said is a verbatim copy of the reply I am holding to a parliamentary question last November. I have every syllable, comma and full stop of what the Minister said in front of me.
Consistency.
The record of the House shows there is no update from the update I am holding, which we were given in November after the Cabinet was updated at the end of October on measures to be implemented by 2012 and a review at the end of the third quarter. There is no update from then to now; the situation is the same.
Does the Deputy have a question on any agency?
Yes. Several times before and since Christmas I have asked the Taoiseach about what progress had been made on the 47 measures that were to be implemented by 2012. Before Christmas he told me the heads of the Bill relating to the Competition Authority were to be published before Christmas. It did not happen. The legislative process for the rationalisation of the industrial relations mechanisms was to be finished in 2012, but the Taoiseach told me the other day that legislation will be published in 2013. The review of the city and county enterprise boards was to be completed by 2012. The Taoiseach said it is approved by the Government but no legislation has yet been published. Last week, I asked the Taoiseach about the merger of the Opticians Board and the Health and Social Care Professionals Council, which was to be completed by the end of 2012. He said there would be legislation in 2013. The merger of the Equality Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission was to be completed by 2012, but the Taoiseach said there would be legislation in this session.
Given the briefing the Cabinet received last October, the Government has clearly fallen a mile behind in the progress that was promised. This is all on the record. The Taoiseach gave me those replies because I generally ask on the Order of Business about the progress on a particular merger. They were meant to be completed by 2012 but he is now promising legislation. I am seeking an update.
I can give the Deputy an update on any agency he wishes.
That is what I asked for.
I will give the reply to the Deputy afterwards. I presume I am entitled to do that, although that might be a presumption too far.
This came from the public service reform plan. We said we wished to proceed with the 47, but we retained one and there is a reason for that. On the remaining 46, we told the Departments to get on with the task of introducing legislation where that is required. We cannot simply say "just do it" in Soviet style. The Cabinet Ministers have entered into a policy commitment so they will do it.
With regard to the other areas in which we have sought reviews, we have accepted that rationalisation and mergers will occur in a quarter of them. We will examine further reviews but to suggest substantial progress has not been made and that agencies are not merging or being abolished is not true. In the education sector, the Further Education and Training Council, FETAC completed its amalgamation with HETAC, NQAI and IUQB to form the Quality and Qualifications Ireland. The number of VECs has been reduced from 33 to 16 and the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology and the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences have been merged. The Deputy should consider the reduction in the number of town councils in the environment sector and the mergers of city and council councils. Elsewhere, the Dublin Transportation Authority and Dublin Regional Authority have been amalgamated. It is not true to present this as a lack of progress.
I refer to the reply I received from the Minister on 21 November 2012. He stated: "I am confident based on the progress to date of the 47 measures will be completed at a minimum on an administrative basis by the end of the year."
Who said that?
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I asked for an update and there has been no update. I acknowledge the work is ongoing. I thought it was nonsense when he said they would be completed by the end of the year but he put his neck out. That statement is on the Dáil record and I am just following up.
To be fair to the Minister, the fact is the rationalisation is happening and these agencies are being merged on an administrative basis. That is the policy decision of the Government. In fairness to the Minister, he requires his colleagues to get on with the task of making sure it happens. The Deputy has given me this platform today and I am sure they will be listening in.
