Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 277: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of staff in terms of whole-time equivalents who have been assigned by him to give effect to the commitment to assess, measure and then reduce by 25% administrative burdens imposed by his Department's regulations to business; the financial resources that have been spent on such work to date in 2008; the expected expenditure for the remainder of 2008; the budget for 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45948/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is participating in the inter-Departmental process, co-ordinated by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, with a view to reducing by 25% the administrative burden placed on businesses by Government. It is envisaged 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 25% target will be met by the end of 2012.

While it is not expected that my Department will be identified as one of those Departments that imposes the greatest administrative burden on businesses, the work involved to date is currently being carried out as an integral part of the general public policy formation process and other administrative functions within my Department. It is therefore not possible to isolate the staffing and financial resources involved in the manner requested by the Deputy.