Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress he has made regarding the consideration of the recommendations contained in the report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41718/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As I have stated in the House on a number of occasions, the recommendations in the report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes represent a set of options that are being considered by the Government in the context of the 2010 budget.

It has been well flagged that serious inroads in the gap in the public finances between income and expenditure must be made. The report from the special group has provided a broad range of measures for consideration by the Government in that regard. As the Deputy will be aware, it proposes a range of savings relating to various functions of my Department. Towards that end, it proposes that a number of schemes be abolished or reduced and makes specific recommendations regarding agencies under the aegis of my Department and indeed the Department itself.

However, I believe it would not be appropriate for me to engage in a line-by-line discussion of the various recommendations of the report from the special group, not least because of the work that is in train by the Government to frame the budget.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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The last part of the Minister's response is interesting because the main question being asked nationwide through all the agencies funded by his Department is whether the Department will survive budget day. I note The Irish Times published an advertisement in recent weeks in respect of the appointment of a Secretary General for this Department. Was clearance received from the Minister for Finance for this appointment? If so, can Members take it that the McCarthy recommendation that the Department for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht affairs be dissolved will not take place and that the Government has overruled and cast aside this recommendation? In itself, this will determine many people's Christmases, because it will ensure that their employment will not be affected. A previous reply from the Minister on the community services programme stated it employed 2,700 people, each one of whom is worried as to where matters stand, how he or she will be affected by the cuts and whether the Department will be dissolved. Given the evidence of the aforementioned advertisement, is it Government policy that this aspect of the McCarthy report will not be implemented? Will those who are employed through the various agencies funded by the Department find out that their jobs are safe and that they can look forward to progressing the many wonderful projects they are implementing at the behest of the Government and the House?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As for the first part of the Deputy's question, the decision to advertise the position of Secretary General of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was approved by the Government in the normal way. That job has been publically advertised. In this case it was rightly decided to have a public advertisement to see who would apply not only from within the public service, but also from outside.

The configuration of Departments is purely a matter for the Taoiseach. Even within the current Government, as in the previous Government, responsibilities are in continual flux. Parts of the responsibility for the marine were transferred to the Departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and Transport and so on. Where departmental responsibilities move from one Minister to another, it does not put an end to the role. Fisheries continue under the remit of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. People try to spin it to the effect that a change of ministerial responsibilities means a change in or elimination of the programmes but that it is unfair and disingenuous.

The position of Secretary General to the Department has been advertised and it is intended to make an appointment in due course. I know of no proposal at the moment to change the configuration of Departments but that is a matter for the Taoiseach at any time.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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It is not correct to say that this is within the remit of the Taoiseach at any time. When a new Government takes office, the Taoiseach determines the different Departments. I do not, however, recall a Taoiseach's deciding in the middle of a Government's term to dissolve a Department as recommended in the McCarthy report. The people want a decision on where this stands. Talking about shifting the responsibility to different Departments removes the resolve that existed in the initial stages of implementation of each project and programme. The concern is that if the Minister of the day in any Department decides on his priorities at the outset but more responsibilities are added in the middle of a Government's term, it reduces the chance of those priorities being processed as the Minister wishes, and as we in the Opposition have on many occasions supported him to do.

Will this Department survive McCarthy? Will the people employed in its various agencies be able to say that there is no change in the projected funding and that, while there may be cutbacks, the thrust of each programme remains the same and that they will not be diversified by falling under the remit of some other Minister? That is the big problem.

The Minister has not made a decision about the appointment of the Secretary General of the Department. He has said it will happen but I want to know when it will happen.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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It will happen as quickly as these processes come to a conclusion. The public process will take slightly longer than an internal process would do but there will be no delay. That is not within my control. These recommendations are made independently and a certain number of names are brought forward. That process will go ahead and be brought to completion.

I know of no proposal to change the responsibilities of my Department. I share the view of the Deputy that this Department has done very good work. Many areas, whether severely deprived urban areas, isolated rural areas or islands, would not have received the same attention in the normal way under the line Departments. The same applies for the drug problems with which my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy John Curran, deals. The Department works because it deals with communities on a geographic basis or on the basis of social deprivation. If we did not have that system, these communities would keep falling through the cracks. I fully accept the support of the Opposition Deputies for the work of this Department and their positive attitude.

I know of no change but it would not be true to say that change is not possible because many years ago the Department of Labour was set up, and Dr. Paddy Hillery was appointed, mid-term. I know of no proposal to change this Department. Speaking on TG4, the Taoiseach made it quite clear when asked about the Department's responsibility for the Gaeltacht that he did not visualise change À la McCarthy. I cannot pre-empt any decision he might make but I do not see any imminent change.