Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 143: To ask the Taoiseach when the value for money review of the National Economic and Social Council, National Economic and Social Forum and National Economic and Social Development Office will be complete; the value of the anticipated savings to the Exchequer due to the implementation of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26706/08]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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A comprehensive review of the National Economic and Social Development Office and its constituent bodies i.e. the National Economic and Social Council, the National Economic and Social Forum and the National Centre for Partnership and Performance is currently underway as part of the Government's Programme of Value for Money and Policy Reviews. The Terms of Reference of this review include an examination of: the extent to which the objectives of NESDO have been achieved and the effectiveness with which they have been achieved; and the current usage by NESDO and its constituent bodies of the Grant-in-Aid funding in value for money terms and evaluation of alternative policy, organisational, structural or funding approaches to achieving its objectives against efficiency and cost effective criteria.

I feel that it is appropriate to await the outcome of this review rather than to anticipate the results and recommendations.

In this regard, it is envisaged that a draft review report will be prepared by the end of July 2008. This report will then be reviewed by an External Reviewer and it is anticipated that the report will be finalised by the end of September 2008.