Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

As I indicated in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 768 on 24 September last, in the current economic climate it is incumbent on the State to ensure that the citizen is provided with services that give value for money and that are effective and efficient.

It is also essential that there is the optimum level of transparency and accountability in the delivery of such services to the citizen. This is particularly the case with regard to the large number of non-commercial State agencies now in existence, which was adversely commented on in the OECD report on the Irish public service published last April.

In the context of the 2009 Estimates process, all Departments, including my own, are examining options to rationalise their agencies with a view to delivering financial efficiencies as well as the more effective delivery of services to the public.

It is equally important to ensure that agency functions do not overlap, that there is effective and ongoing communication between these bodies and that the opportunities for synergies, including the sharing of corporate services and other back office functions, are availed of to the fullest extent possible. Moreover, the Government is anxious to ensure that in delivering public services, State agencies avoid the risk of confusing customers by any overlap of functions or roles.

All the bodies mentioned by the Deputy are included in this analysis and are the subject of critical evaluation based on these principles. I assure the Deputy that any solution arrived at will in no way dilute the level of services provided to the public in the areas of disability, human rights, equality and data protection.

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