Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

Arising from his reply, does the Minister accept that in the context of the current financial climate it is essential to look at all of the agencies under his Department - just as will be done in every other Ministry - to ensure we do not deprive citizens of a service at the expense of retaining an agency or quango that should have its work carried out by the line Department? Some 85 agencies and bodies can be identified at local and national level in the Minister's Department that could be merged or abandoned and the considerable savings that would accrue could yield a significant return that could help towards the difficulties the Department will have in the Estimates for 2011. Will the Minister accept that he needs to revisit his policy and the agencies he has identified to date to ensure we have devolution of power from the central area to the local area, that we have greater accountability for the existing agencies and that we achieve greater efficiencies in line with the local government efficiency report in order to yield a better return for citizens at this time of straitened financial circumstances?

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