Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

The previous Government committed in 2008 to reducing administrative burdens by 25% by 2012. The work to reduce administrative burdens on business in Ireland is being progressed on two fronts. The High Level Group on Business Regulation works to fast-track simplifications to specific red-tape issues identified by business. In addition, an interdepartmental group of officials from all Departments, having regulation affecting business, co-ordinates the measurement and reduction of administrative burdens in a systematic manner, based on the internationally recognised standard cost model.

The high level group is chaired by my colleague the Minister of State for Small Business, Deputy John Perry. To date, the group has processed 48 specific red-tape issues brought to its attention by business, and continues to drive progress on a further 20 items.

The group continues to work with business interests to identify new opportunities for simplification. In addition, my Department is in the process of measuring other burden reductions achieved across Government. The results of this measurement exercise are expected to be available in the second half of 2011.

As far as quantification of the savings concerned, the CSO and my Department have done exercises to quantify the main burdens. My Department has already reduced measured burdens by 22%, or 90% of the target to be achieved, which is an annual saving of almost €187 million. I expect that I will be in a position to announce the initiatives that will make up the remaining 3% before the end of the year.

To give greater momentum to this process and to reiterate the importance of continuing action in this task to other Departments, I intend to initiate a project shortly to measure the burdens across all remaining Departments. This is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2012. Each relevant Department will then prepare simplification plans detailing how they will meet any shortfall from the 25% target within their areas of responsibility.

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