Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 618: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her Department made submissions to the McCarthy group on potential savings in her Department; the contents of the submissions made; if the McCarthy group made proposals to her Department; the contents of the proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28901/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes was established by the Minister for Finance to examine current expenditure programmes in each Department and to make recommendations for reducing public service numbers so as to ensure a return to sustainable public finances.

At the Group's request, my Department submitted an evaluation report on the various schemes and services operated by the Department as well as expenditure trends, in order to facilitate the Group's examination of my Department's expenditure. In addition, the Secretary General and other officials met with the Group.

The Minister for Finance has recently received the Report of the Special Group, and he has indicated that he will be bringing the Report to Government in the near future.