Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together.

The context in which financial provision has been made by the Government for the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority for 2009 was outlined in the Budget Statement of 14 October last. While I accept the reduced budgets will cause difficulties in both cases, sufficient funding has been provided to the bodies to enable them to discharge their core activities in 2009. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is available to assist the organisations in every practical way that is possible. I am willing to meet representatives of the bodies to discuss the implications of the budget for their operations. I remind Deputies that the 2009 provision for the Equality Tribunal, which adjudicates on individual claims of inequality, has been increased by €340,000, or 15%, to reflect the priority that should be given to people who have a grievance in this respect. As I indicated in my contribution to the budget debate, I have decided that the main priority in the justice area in 2009 will be to tackle crime. My funding decisions reflect that priority, with the result that budgets have been reduced significantly in a small number of areas. In line with Government policy, I have asked all bodies to reduce their spending on consultants, advertising, promotional activities and other non-core items significantly.

The Department is examining issues which need to be addressed to achieve efficiencies in the integration of the administrative and back office facilities of the Equality Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission. These areas, which are likely to include shared information technology and telecommunications facilities as well as office accommodation, are being addressed in the context of the decentralisation to Roscrea of the remaining elements of the Equality Authority. I understand that the two organisations have had discussions to move matters forward. Both agencies operate from separate premises in Dublin city centre. The offices have a cumulative annual rental cost of over €800,000. Significant efficiencies and savings can be realised by both bodies, and possibly by others, if they share office facilities. Further substantial savings of approximately €300,000, or 10% of the authority's budget, will be realised by the completion of the transfer of further Equality Authority staff to Roscrea. I am prepared to agree, at this stage, that any savings made by the bodies in question may be used by them to supplement their budgets in meeting the costs of discharging their core functions. This does not mean there will be an increase in the published budget of either body, or that the savings can be used for advertising or other public relations activities. In other words, I do not propose to use the savings they might make to meet other expenditure requirements across my Vote group.

See this speech in context