Dáil debates
Wednesday, 23 January 2013
Other Questions
State Agencies
2:30 pm
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the date on which he will publish an updated list of State agencies and organisations that will be rationalised or amalgamated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2813/13]
Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
As the Deputy is aware, the radical streamlining of State bodies is a key deliverable of the public service reform plan published in November 2011. This streamlining included 48 rationalisation measures to be implemented by the end of 2012, as well as a further 46 critical reviews to take place by the end of June 2012. Details of the bodies involved are set out in Appendices IIa and IIb of the plan, which can be found on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s website.
With regard to the 48 agency rationalisation measures outlined in Appendix IIa of the public service reform plan, which were already decided on by the Government, significant progress has been made by the responsible parent Departments on the implementation of these measures. In just one case the Government has decided not to proceed with the measure at this time, namely, the proposal to absorb the national cancer registry into the Department of Health. All the others are proceeding or have been completed.
The Deputy is inquiring about the outcome of the 46 critical reviews which were undertaken during last year as part of the public service reform plan. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform updated his Cabinet colleagues on 31 October 2012 on the status of these 46 critical reviews of further potential agency rationalisation measures. The outcome from these reviews are listed in the table, which will be made available to Deputies along with a copy of this reply. Broadly speaking, 24 of the critical reviews, involving a total of 116 bodies, recommended proceeding with merger/rationalisation. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform requested his Cabinet colleagues to bring forward a timeline for full implementation of these by the end of 2013. Ten reviews did not recommend proceeding with the proposed actions. The Minister has asked these Departments to bring forward alternative proposals to improve shared services, operational synergies and so forth between the bodies mentioned, where appropriate. Four reviews are not fully finalised and eight reviews were deferred due to wider external factors. These reviews are predominantly in the health sector and will be considered in due course.
Ref No. (See Appendix IIb of Public Service Reform Plan)DepartmentState BodyProposalDecision2Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodIrish Maritime Development OfficeSubsume into the Marine InstituteThe IMDO already, from an administrative perspective, operates under a single subhead with the Marine Institute. No further action needed.4, 5Department of Communications, Energy and Natural ResourcesCommission for Communication Regulation and Broadcasting Authority of IrelandMerge CCR and BAIProceeding - Merge back-office administrative functions with the BAI6Department of Education and SkillsExpert Group on Future Skills NeedsAbsorb into DepartmentProceeding7Department of Children and Youth AffairsNational Education and Welfare BoardMerge into Child & Family Support AgencyProceeding8Department of Jobs, Enterprise & InnovationAdvisory Council for Science, Technology and InnovationAbsorb into DepartmentProceeding9Department of Jobs, Enterprise & InnovationNational Competitiveness CouncilAbsorb into DepartmentProceeding10Department of Jobs, Enterprise & InnovationOffice of the Chief Scientific Adviser to the GovernmentAbsorb into SFIProceeding11Department of Jobs, Enterprise & InnovationShannon DevelopmentReview future role of Shannon Development The Government has decided that a State owned entity comprising the Shannon Airport Authority and Shannon Development be established.12Department of Environment, Community & Local GovernmentEnvironmental Protection Agency / Radiological Protection Institute of IrelandMerge EPA and the RPIIProceeding – This action may require a longer time-frame than end-201313Department of Environment, Community & Local GovernmentLocal AuthoritiesOn going rationalisation of Local Authority structuresProceeding - Rationalisation of Local Authorities structures was announced on 15 October 201215Department of Environment, Community & Local GovernmentBuildings Regulations Advisory BoardAbsorb into DepartmentProceeding17Department of Public Expenditure and ReformValuation OfficeMerge the Valuation Office, the Property Registration Authority and Ordnance Survey(see 30-32 below) D/Justice and Equality is lead Department19Department of Public Expenditure and ReformState LaboratoryMerge Forensic Science Laboratory into State LaboratoryProceeding – The Forensic Science Laboratory will be brought within the ambit of the State Laboratory for professional leadership purposes while remaining within the criminal justice system for operational purposes29Department of Justice and EqualityReception and Integration Agency, Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner & Refugee Appeals TribunalRationalise various Refugee StructuresProceeding30-32Department of Justice and EqualityProperty Registration AuthorityMerge the Valuation Office, the Property Registration Authority and Ordnance SurveyProceeding34Department of Justice and EqualityPrison Visiting CommitteesReduce or merge Visiting Committees as there is now a Prison InspectorateProceeding39Department of Arts, Heritage and the GaeltachtChester Beatty LibraryDevelop shared services opportunities with other cultural institutionsProceeding40Department of Arts, Heritage and the GaeltachtPlacenames Commission / An Choimisiúin LogainmneachaAbsorb function within DepartmentProceeding42Department of Arts, Heritage and the GaeltachtCulture IrelandMerge the functions of Culture Ireland into DepartmentProceeding45Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation (Cont.)Companies Registration OfficeMerge the Companies Registration Office and the Office of the Registrar of Friendly SocietiesThese bodies already, from an administrative perspective, operate as one office under a single subhead in the Department’s Vote. No further action required46Department of Jobs, Enterprise & InnovationOffice of the Registrar of Friendly SocietiesMerge with the Companies Registration Office See 45 above
Ref No. (See Appendix IIb of Public Service Reform Plan)Lead DepartmentState BodyProposalDecision1Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodNational Milk AgencyAbolish or merge with Bord BiaNot proceeding3Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodBord Iascaigh Mhara (B.I.M.)Transfer functions of BIM into the DepartmentNot proceeding14Department of Environment, Community & Local GovernmentLocal Government Audit ServiceMerge into the Office of the Comptroller & Auditor GeneralNot proceeding18Department of Public Expenditure and ReformDisciplinary Code of Appeals Board and the Independent MediatorAbolish/merge with new employment rights bodyNot proceeding21Department of the TaoiseachNESCAbolish / disband along with the other bodies in the group (NESDO) having regard to the duplication of functions with the ESRI and the economic advisory role of the new Irish Fiscal Advisory CouncilNot proceeding28Department of Justice and EqualityProperty Services Regulation AuthorityMerge with the Private Residential Tenancy BoardNot proceeding36Department of Transport, Tourism & SportMedical Bureau of Road SafetyMerge with State LaboratoryNot proceeding – The MBRS will be considered in time as part of the future configuration of the State Laboratory37Department of Transport, Tourism & SportRailway Safety Commission Amalgamate as part of establishing a single transport safety body comprising Road Safety Authority, Railway Safety Commission, and the Maritime Safety DirectorateNot proceeding38Department of Transport, Tourism & SportRoad Safety AuthorityAmalgamate as part of establishing a single transport safety body comprising Road Safety Authority, Railway Safety Commission, and the Maritime Safety DirectorateNot proceeding41Department of Arts, Heritage and the GaeltachtHeritage CouncilMerge the functions of the Council into DepartmentNot proceeding – While a merger will not proceed, a reduced, pro bono board will be put in place and statutory committees abolished
Ref No. (See Appendix IIb of Public Service Reform Plan)Lead DepartmentState BodyProposalDecision22Department of HealthMental Health CommissionAbsorb into Patient Safety AuthorityReview Deferred23Department of HealthNational Paediatric Hospital Development BoardDependent on outcome of decision on hospitalReview Deferred24Department of HealthHealth Information and Quality AuthorityThe Programme for Government envisages the creation of a Patient Safety Authority incorporating HIQA with a licensing roleReview Deferred25Department of HealthNational Treatment Purchase FundThe Programme for Government states that a new Hospital Care Purchase Agency will combine with the National Treatment Purchase Fund as part of the transition to a universal health insurance modelReview Deferred26Department of HealthHealth Insurance AuthorityFuture to be considered in context of proposed move to a system of Universal Health CareReview Deferred27Department of HealthPre-Hospital Emergency Care CouncilMerge into Health and Social Care Professionals CouncilReview Deferred33Department of Justice and EqualityOffice of the Data Protection CommissionerAmalgamate with the Office of the OmbudsmanReview Deferred35Department of Justice and EqualityCommissioners of Charitable Donations and BequestsSubsume Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests into proposed Office of the Charities RegulatorReview Deferred
Ref No. (See Appendix IIb of Public Service Reform Plan)Lead DepartmentState BodyProposalDecision16Department of Public Expenditure and Reform / Department of FinanceNDFAMerge into OPW / National Procurement ServiceThe critical review has been finalised and consultations regarding how best to implement its recommendations are ongoing20Department of Foreign Affairs and TradeDevelopment Education Advisory CommitteeRole being reviewed as part of review of 2006 White Paper on ODA included in Programme for GovernmentOngoing43Department of Social ProtectionPensions BoardIntegrate functions with Financial Regulator. Review ongoing and due to be completed shortly44Department of Social ProtectionPensions OmbudsmanMerge with the Financial Services Ombudsman. Review ongoing and due to be completed shortly
Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I do not blame the Minister, but I asked for an update on this issue. What the Minister said is a verbatim copy of the reply I am holding to a parliamentary question last November. I have every syllable, comma and full stop of what the Minister said in front of me.
Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Consistency.
Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
The record of the House shows there is no update from the update I am holding, which we were given in November after the Cabinet was updated at the end of October on measures to be implemented by 2012 and a review at the end of the third quarter. There is no update from then to now; the situation is the same.
Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Does the Deputy have a question on any agency?
Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Yes. Several times before and since Christmas I have asked the Taoiseach about what progress had been made on the 47 measures that were to be implemented by 2012. Before Christmas he told me the heads of the Bill relating to the Competition Authority were to be published before Christmas. It did not happen. The legislative process for the rationalisation of the industrial relations mechanisms was to be finished in 2012, but the Taoiseach told me the other day that legislation will be published in 2013. The review of the city and county enterprise boards was to be completed by 2012. The Taoiseach said it is approved by the Government but no legislation has yet been published. Last week, I asked the Taoiseach about the merger of the Opticians Board and the Health and Social Care Professionals Council, which was to be completed by the end of 2012. He said there would be legislation in 2013. The merger of the Equality Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission was to be completed by 2012, but the Taoiseach said there would be legislation in this session.
Given the briefing the Cabinet received last October, the Government has clearly fallen a mile behind in the progress that was promised. This is all on the record. The Taoiseach gave me those replies because I generally ask on the Order of Business about the progress on a particular merger. They were meant to be completed by 2012 but he is now promising legislation. I am seeking an update.
Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I can give the Deputy an update on any agency he wishes.
Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
That is what I asked for.
Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I will give the reply to the Deputy afterwards. I presume I am entitled to do that, although that might be a presumption too far.
This came from the public service reform plan. We said we wished to proceed with the 47, but we retained one and there is a reason for that. On the remaining 46, we told the Departments to get on with the task of introducing legislation where that is required. We cannot simply say "just do it" in Soviet style. The Cabinet Ministers have entered into a policy commitment so they will do it.
With regard to the other areas in which we have sought reviews, we have accepted that rationalisation and mergers will occur in a quarter of them. We will examine further reviews but to suggest substantial progress has not been made and that agencies are not merging or being abolished is not true. In the education sector, the Further Education and Training Council, FETAC completed its amalgamation with HETAC, NQAI and IUQB to form the Quality and Qualifications Ireland. The number of VECs has been reduced from 33 to 16 and the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology and the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences have been merged. The Deputy should consider the reduction in the number of town councils in the environment sector and the mergers of city and council councils. Elsewhere, the Dublin Transportation Authority and Dublin Regional Authority have been amalgamated. It is not true to present this as a lack of progress.
2:40 pm
Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I refer to the reply I received from the Minister on 21 November 2012. He stated: "I am confident based on the progress to date of the 47 measures will be completed at a minimum on an administrative basis by the end of the year."
Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Who said that?
Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I asked for an update and there has been no update. I acknowledge the work is ongoing. I thought it was nonsense when he said they would be completed by the end of the year but he put his neck out. That statement is on the Dáil record and I am just following up.
Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
To be fair to the Minister, the fact is the rationalisation is happening and these agencies are being merged on an administrative basis. That is the policy decision of the Government. In fairness to the Minister, he requires his colleagues to get on with the task of making sure it happens. The Deputy has given me this platform today and I am sure they will be listening in.