Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will cut social welfare payments across the board; and if so, the amount in relation to same. [34379/09]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on the recommendations for her Department contained in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34254/09]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to cut the basic rate of any social welfare payment in Budget 2010. [34414/09]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 159: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on the recommendations contained in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes as it relates to her Department; the recommendations she has decided to accept; and the recommendations she has decided to reject. [34412/09]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on the recommendations of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes for her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34375/09]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans in relation to the ending or amendment of entitlement to dual payments as recommended by the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes. [34419/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 134, 150, 154, 159, 168 and 179 together.

The proposals contained in the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes will be considered in the context of the forthcoming Estimates and Budget processes. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage pending the outcome of these deliberative processes.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on the recommendations in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes in relation to the merging of the Pensions Board with the Financial Regulator. [34418/09]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on the recommendations in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes in relation to the merging of the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman with the Financial Service Ombudsman. [34417/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 172 together.

The possible rationalisation or merger of agencies under the aegis of the Department will be considered as part of the Estimates and Budgetary process for 2010. This will include consideration of the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, and the decisions on all of the issues arising will be a matter for the Government.

It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage pending the outcome of these deliberative processes.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has submitted recommendations to the Special Group on Public Expenditure in advance of the McCarthy report being formulated. [34383/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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At the Special 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 evaluation report submitted by my Department to the Special Group included options for changes in schemes and services. These options were not advanced as proposals or recommendations but as items which might be technically feasible within the parameters of given schemes or across schemes.