James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the State agencies within her Department's remit which are under review; when same will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34494/08]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the State agencies within her Department's remit under review; when same will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34836/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 139 and 143 together.

As Deputies will be aware, a review of the Combat Poverty Agency was undertaken on foot of a Government decision on the 6th of June 2007. The purpose of the review was to examine the role of the Agency in light of the emergence since 1986 of comprehensive strategies and new institutional arrangements to promote social inclusion (such as the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion, the Office for Social Inclusion and the voluntary pillar in Social Partnership).

The Government, having considered the review report, has decided to integrate the Combat Poverty Agency with the Office for Social Inclusion within the Department of Social and Family Affairs. It is not my intention that Combat Poverty will simply be absorbed into the Office for Social Inclusion in its existing form. Rather a new strengthened division will be created which will make the best use of the considerable experience and expertise of the staff of both existing bodies and will seek to address the weaknesses identified by the Review in relation to both. I believe that this new division will provide a stronger voice for those affected by poverty and social inclusion issues.

I am conscious of the concerns about the need for independent scrutiny of public policy that have been expressed by some interest groups. I absolutely agree that independent critique is very important and this move is no way intended to reduce the scope for such work.

As the review report notes, the function of independent reporting on poverty is no longer as dependent on Combat Poverty as it was in earlier years. This is due for example to the emergence of other independent data sources such as the statistics on poverty reported by the CSO, and independent analysis by bodies such as the ESRI and NESC and on the international front by the EU and OECD. And of course, Ireland is well-served by the social partners, and a wide range of NGOs and other groups who have a strong voice in public debate about poverty and related issues.

Procedures will be put in place to ensure that the views of these and other stakeholders, including people experiencing poverty, continue to be available to Government in developing and monitoring the social inclusion strategies.

Combining two organisations will naturally result in savings to the Exchequer, for example, in the areas of accommodation and support services. The extent and timing of savings will be identified and dealt with as part of the implementation of the Government decision which is underway.