Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

A total of €1.032 million was provided for the National Economic and Social Development Office under subhead M of the Department's Vote. This office comprises the National Economic and Social Council and the National Economic and Social Forum to which the Deputy has referred. The primary role of these bodies is to facilitate and promote complementary programmes of research, analysis and discussion. They have a shared administration and submit reports to Government.

The National Economic and Social Council provides strategic economic reports looking forward in various areas of the agreed programme for Government. The National Social and Economic Forum looks at the social programme. Both bodies are representative of the social partners and of a broad spectrum of opinion, including independent and other members. From the point of the view of the State and value for money, having them together and with joint administration is practical. They do not take their direction from the Government but have a high level of independence in their analysis. The only report the Government requests is the analysis for each round of pay and economic agreements. Most of their other studies are based on the range of issues raised by their own members.

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