Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has completed her list of information obligations which their regulations impose on businesses; the information obligations or if the list has not been completed, the date by which they will be completed; if they have identified the most burdensome of those information obligations which their regulation impose on businesses and measured their actual cost to businesses; the information obligations and their costs, or if this aspect of the project has not been completed, the date by which this will be done; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34597/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Lists of information obligations have been compiled in the Department in relation to a variety of obligations imposed on employers by 14 Sections of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. The obligations cover, for example, cooperation with Social Welfare Inspectors in relation to PRSI inspections, notifying the Department of the commencement of employment and furnishing the Department with information relating to employees as part of the claim determination process. I have arranged to send the lists directly to the Deputy.

Prioritisation of these information obligations is currently under way and is expected to be completed by the end of 2008. The prioritised information obligations will then be measured. When measurement has been completed, simplification plans will be prepared detailing what a reduction in the administrative burden on business could be achieved.

The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment is coordinating the overall process to measure and reduce administrative burdens on business across Government. I understand that the Department envisages that the identification, prioritisation and measurement process should be completed by all Departments by the end of 2009.

On completion of the measurement exercise simplification plans will be prepared detailing how the overall 25% relevant target would be met by the end of 2012.