Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I can give the Deputy the precise information now or at another time regarding who is responsible for what. I will pass it onto him. The cost associated with the establishment of the new Department will be kept to an absolute minimum. A written instruction has issued to all staff in this regard. It was one of the first actions I took. It is my intention to use all old stocks of stationery and supplies carefully held by the Department. The benefits of bringing together social development issues and functions under the aegis of one Department outweigh the minimum costs arising from the establishment of the Department.

With regard to the restructuring, a number of measures will need to be implemented. Following the announcement the following measures are being progressed by my Department and the Departments of Finance and the Taoiseach — an order to be made to change the title of the Department; an order to be made transferring functions in and out of the Department; and following the transfer of functions into my Department, delegation orders will be progressed through which functions held by the Minister can be delegated to the Minister of State. I will make available the other information, which will be useful to everybody, straight away.

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