Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will recall that the Government decided in 2012 to dissolve NESDO and place NESC on a statutory footing. All Ministers engage in dialogue on these matters. Formal structures in place include the National Economic Dialogue, the Labour Employer Economic Forum, the Climate Change Advisory Council and the Social Inclusion Forum. The role of NESC needs to be assessed in light of these arrangements. In addition to these structures, we now have the national risk assessment process. We have just published the national risk assessment for 2016, which identifies the strategic risks in the economic, environmental, geopolitical, social and technological areas. The programme for Government also points to the need for longer term planning, specifically citing areas like housing, broadband, climate change, pensions and long-term funding models in higher education and health. The question of pensions was raised earlier today. We need to find a way to bring all these elements together in a coherent fashion and to tap into the knowledge and expertise that is out there regardless of whether it lies with academic experience or other experience. I did not set a specific timeline for the completion of the assessment process. A great deal of work is being carried out by the Department and this work will, hopefully, come to a conclusion soon. I will return to the House in respect of this issue.

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