Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 539: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the recent statement to the effect that the decentralisation of the Equality Authority will not continue and that an independent review of its budget will be conducted; if he will confirm the substance of this statement; the position regarding the Equality Authority in view of the fact that its staff is split between two locations as a result of decentralisation to date; the make-up, form and timeframe of the planned budget review; if he will offer a guarantee that the 43% budget cut will be reversed; and the extent to which it will be reversed. [11209/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Equality Authority launched, on 4 March 2009, its new Strategic Plan for 2009 to 2011, entitled "Equality for All in a Time of Change". It has been widely acknowledged that the Plan represents a new direction for the Authority to enable it to meet its complex mandate, and recognises the changing financial circumstances in which all public service bodies are operating. The stated position of the Authority is " to work towards its goal with more modest resources during the period of its new strategic plan, noting that this may limit what it spends, but not what it may achieve". I have arranged to have copies of the Plan placed in the Oireachtas library. The details can be accessed on the Authority's website at www.equality.ie.

Discussions have been ongoing between my Department and the Authority on its cost base. The savings, already announced in relation to accommodation and IT, have enabled the Authority to concentrate on its core programme objectives of working towards the elimination of discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity. The Deputy will appreciate that no review of funding of any public body at present can operate without reference to the grave Exchequer position.

Under the Plan the Authority is open for business at both of its offices, in Birchgrove House, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary and in Clonmel Street, Dublin. I recently agreed in principle to a request from the Chair of the Equality Authority to delay on hardship grounds the transfer of 4-5 staff to Roscrea. I have asked my officials to work out the details on a case-by-case basis with the acting Chief Executive Officer of the Authority and to review the situation again in 2011 when other aspects of the wider decentralisation programme are due to be reviewed. I understand from the Equality Authority that fifteen staff have taken up duty at the Roscrea offices of the Authority, a total which will increase to 23 people in the coming weeks.

The Roscrea office is providing the Authority's national public information centre as well as other legal, administrative and development functions. The Roscrea team has developed a new outreach role, at key local and community levels, throughout the Midlands, the South and the South West.