Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department will complete an efficiency review and audit of all State agencies and bodies under the responsibility of his Department; if he has plans to merge or abolish any State agencies or bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20592/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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In Budget 2008, the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance announced the requirement for all Government Departments to examine all administrative spending under their aegis with a view to producing efficiency savings. All non-commercial State Bodies under the aegis of my Department were requested to carry out an efficiency review in this regard and report back to my Department by 9 February. The responses of the various Bodies were taken account of in the efficiency review, which was submitted by my Department to the Department of Finance in March and which is currently under consideration in that Department.

The recently published Broadcasting legislation proposes the establishment of a new Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI). The BAI will be a new regulatory authority replacing both the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission.

I am currently considering, on foot of proposals received from the fisheries boards, the most appropriate way forward in terms of streamlining the structures of the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards.

In general, I would emphasise that Value for Money is a high priority issue. I fully support the efficient and effective use of taxpayers' money and the continuous achievement of Value for Money. My Department continuously seeks to deliver programme and administrative expenditure as approved each year by the Dáil, in a Value for Money way while meeting the policy objectives underpinning this expenditure.