Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Individual Ministers can update the Deputy in respect of each individual case. In budget 2009, the Minister for Finance announced 30 rationalisation decisions to reduce the number of State agencies by 41. As of now, nine of the 30 rationalisation decisions have been implemented, covering nine State agencies and the closure of four Army barracks.

Following analysis by Departments, legislation is required in 18 decisions. Legislation for two of the decisions has already been passed in the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008. The Bills to implement a further three decisions are already in the Oireachtas - the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 and the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009, which fully covers two decisions and most of a third.

Of the remainder, the public transport regulation Bill to implement one decision and the legislation to merge the Fisheries Boards are currently being drafted. In addition, the Government, on 24 March, approved the drafting of the nursing and midwives Bill 2009, which will implement a further decision, and also the drafting of legislation to disestablish the Children Acts Advisory Board. Heads of four further Bills are expected to be submitted to the Government by the summer. The heads of a further Bill are expected in the second half of this year and work on the legislation to implement the final four rationalisation decisions is under way in Departments.

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