Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Transport if his Department will complete an efficiency review and audit of all State agencies and bodies under its responsibility; the plans he has to merge or abolish any State agencies or bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20595/08]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has ordered an efficiency review of all bodies under the responsibility of his Department; if such a review is necessary; the plans he has to abolish or merge bodies as appropriate in order that services to the public are improved and better value for money is obtained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23370/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 119 together.

In line with the efficiency review of administrative expenditure announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget speech last December, my Department has sent a report to the Department of Finance with specific proposals to achieve administrative savings in both the Department and a number of its non-commercial and regulatory agencies. In the case of the agencies, these reviews were carried out internally by each agency's management. My understanding is that the Department of Finance will consider this report and bring proposals to Government in due course.

My Department's report to the Department of Finance was accompanied by a review by senior Departmental management of the structure of the economic regulation, safety regulation and accident investigation bodies under the aegis of my Department; in this regard, a range of options are still under consideration in my Department.

A consortium led by Deloitte has been engaged to undertake a cost and efficiency review of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann and is due to report by end September 2008.

The Government has decided that the Minister for Transport should consider the possibility of the incorporation of the Commission for Taxi Regulation with the Dublin Transport Authority. This matter is being considered with a view to the bringing forward of a possible amendment to the Dublin Transport Authority Bill at Dáil Committee Stage. The Bill already provides for the Dublin Transportation Office to be subsumed into the Dublin Transport Authority.

Policy in relation to the Regional Harbours is that the continued operation of the regional harbours under the outdated provisions of the Harbours Act 1946 is unsustainable on the grounds of good governance and that most of these harbours would best achieve their potential through their transfer to local authority ownership. In harbours where significant commercial traffic exists, consideration will be given to bringing such harbours under the control of a port company.

I am, of course, always prepared to keep structures and agencies continuously under review, to ensure optimal efficiencies and best fit with my Department's strategic agenda.