Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 to 24, inclusive, together.

While fluctuations in spending occur from month to month and some expenditures do not fall due until the end of the year, I am satisfied that overall spending by my Department for 2010 will remain within the agreed revised Estimates for the year.

Work on implementing the recommendations of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure is ongoing in my Department.

In this context, separate programme funding for the work of the Ireland Newfoundland Partnership and the Active Citizenship Office ceased in 2009. The separate offices in these areas have been discontinued and this has given rise to significant savings on my Department's Vote.

The National Forum on Europe was closed in 2009 which also gave rise to significant savings.

In addition there has been significant savings in the National Economic and Social Development Office, NEDSO. The Government considered the role of the office in the context of the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes and the recommendations of a value for money review of the office carried out in my Department. These took account of the evolution of policy and programmes since the various bodies were established, not least the increase in the sources of policy analysis and commentary.

In light of these considerations, the Government decided to amalgamate the three constituent bodies of the National Economic and Social Development Office by absorbing the National Economic and Social Forum, NESF, and the National Centre for Partnership and Performance, NCPP, into the National Economic and Social Council, NESC. In consequence of this, the NESF and the NCPP were dissolved with effect from 1 April 2010. As a result of these changes the budget for NESDO in 2010 was reduced by 34% to €3.332 million with potential for further administrative savings once the restructuring is implemented.

In common with all Departments and offices, there has been a reduction in staff numbers arising from Government policies. In my Department the number of whole time equivalent staff employed has reduced by 10% since the end of 2008. I assure the House that my Department will make significant savings on expenditure in 2010, and that this process will be managed so as to minimise the disruption to the very valuable public services they provide.

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