Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 May 2014
691. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of State agencies and public bodies that have been merged or abolished in each year since 2011, under the remit of his Department; the annual savings associated with each body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21800/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince my appointment as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have created no agencies, However a number have been merged or abolished.
Dundalk Port Company was merged with Dublin Port Company on 12 July 2011 , while Tralee and Fenit Harbour Commissioners transferred to the control of Kerry County Council on 1 October 2011.
In 2012 Dublin Tourism merged with its parent body Fáilte Ireland on 1 January, while both Baltimore and Skibbereen Harbour Commissioners and Kinsale Harbour Commissioners also transferred to the control of Cork County Council on 1 January 2012, along with Arklow Harbour Commissioners which transferred to the control of Wicklow County Council. Shannon Airport separated from the Dublin Airport Authority on 31st December 2012 to merge with a restructured Shannon Development to form a new integrated Shannon entity in public ownership.
Coaching Ireland merged into the Irish Sports Council on 1 January 2013. The final Harbour Commission, Bantry Bay merged with the Port of Cork Company on 1 January 2014. Plans are in train for the merger of Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority and for the merger of the Railway Procurement Agency and the National Roads Authority. The development of the legislation to give effect to these is at an advanced stage.
It is not possible to quantify the annual savings from rationalisation until the detailed arrangements in respect of each implementation have been bedded in and assessed by the agencies in question.
