Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

A range of work is already underway or in planning arising from the report and I am considering the relevant revenue raising and other recommendations that require enabling legislation.

My Department has been working with local authorities to advance the efficiency group's agenda in areas such as shared services, procurement and in the use of online technology to improve efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery to the public. I have recently established an independent implementation group chaired by Pat McLoughlin, who also chaired the efficiency review group, to drive forward relevant recommendations of the report in areas such as shared services, procurement, value for money and audit. I have asked the group to build on the extensive efficiencies that have been achieved by local authorities in the past two years or so where savings of over €300 million have been achieved and to focus on key recommendations that will remove costs and yield earliest financial savings for the benefit of the sector and the economy. The group will report to me at regular intervals and its first report is to be provided within six months.

The group to review the staffing levels in Dublin City Council has recently completed its deliberations and its report and recommendations have recently been submitted to me. I am considering the report and will publish it shortly. Specific measures to modernise local government are also underway in parallel with the efficiency review group's recommendations. These include implementation of the "Transforming Public Services" programme and the public service agreement in local authorities in areas such as shared services, HR, ICT and procurement. Reports on progress and savings under the local government sectoral action plan of the PSA were made to the implementation body in May 2011.

I am satisfied that these measures represent a comprehensive and targeted approach to achieving further efficiencies in local government.

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