Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 8: To ask the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the working groups chaired by his Department. [3179/10]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 9: To ask the Taoiseach the working groups chaired by his Department and their functions. [11525/10]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 10: To ask the Taoiseach if he will list the working groups chaired by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13727/10]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 10, inclusive, together.

In answering these questions I am interpreting "working groups" as groups which are working towards completion of particular projects or tasks rather than groups which meet on a continuous or ongoing basis to provide strategic direction.

As part of the transforming public services agenda, a working group, chaired by my Department, has been established to develop proposals for reducing barriers to information sharing between different parts of the public service. Proposals developed by this group will be submitted for consideration to the Cabinet committee on transforming public services. This is the only working group chaired by my Department.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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How often does this working group meet and is there a regular arrangement in regard to its meetings?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In respect of particular projects, it would meet reasonably regularly. The level of work involved would dictate how regular it meets. I do not have with me the dates in respect of the meetings of that working group but I can obtain them for the Deputy.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Does the senior officials group on social inclusion still exist? My understanding is that group is chaired by the Taoiseach's Department and part of its brief is to maintain a broad overview in regard to social inclusion issues and to bring emerging topics to the attention of the Cabinet committee on social inclusion. Perhaps the Taoiseach will outline its current status in terms of, if it continues to function, when last it met and when it will meet next. The Taoiseach might also state whether developments in regard to the misuse of illegal drugs and the growing dire effect the drugs scourge continues to have on communities comes within its broad remit. Was this group consulted before the cuts which threaten the National Drugs Strategy were imposed?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As I outlined in my reply to Deputy Gilmore, I have interpreted "working groups" as groups working towards the completion of projects or tasks rather than to groups which meet on a continuous or ongoing basis to provide strategic direction which, for example, would include the senior officials group on social inclusion. If the Deputy tables a specific question in that regard, I will be able to provide a more specific response and dates in regard to meetings and so on. I do not have that information to hand. I did not interpret the question in that way.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Taoiseach confirm that the group is still in existence?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, it is.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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We have a limited time remaining for Taoiseach's Questions. It might perhaps be better to move on to matters raised under Standing Order 32 and the Order of Business.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We will not harass the Taoiseach any more this morning.