Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.

In accordance with the initiative I announced in my 2008 budget speech, an efficiency review of my Department's expenditure and related activities was undertaken earlier this year. The review identified a number of proposals which, when fully implemented, will result in greater administrative efficiency in my Department and the bodies for which my Department has responsibility. The review considered those bodies which are in receipt of funding from my Department's Vote, which include the National Economic and Social Development Office, NESDO, comprising the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, the National Economic and Social Forum, NESF, and the National Centre for Partnership and Performance, NCPP.

Other bodies in receipt of funding from the Department's Vote include the Moriarty tribunal, the National Forum on Europe, the Newfoundland and Labrador Business Partnerships and the Active Citizenship Office.

The establishment of NESDO was in itself an effort to capture the efficiency gains of sharing basic support services across three formerly separate entities, namely NESC, NESF and NCPP, while at the same time encouraging the output benefit of increased co-ordination between them in areas of common interest.

As part of the implementation of the programme of reviews under the value for money and policy review initiative, a comprehensive review of NESDO is nearing completion. The draft review report is being considered by the steering committee for the review and will be considered by an external reviewer, before being finalised. The outcome of this review will provide a solid base for the identification of such further efficiencies as may be achieved by NESDO.

In general, the level of administrative funding provided to the other bodies in receipt of moneys from my Department is small. Nevertheless, it is my view that every scope for administrative efficiencies must be pursued and this is being done in the context of the overall review of administrative expenditure. In general, it is the Department's practice to make use of shared administrative facilities and services to reduce administrative overheads.

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