Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 155: To ask the Taoiseach the number of bodies and agencies under his aegis; and his proposals for the rationalisation of same. [8202/10]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) is the only agency currently under the aegis of my Department. It is an umbrella body for i) the National Economic and Social Council (NESC), ii) the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF), and iii) the National Centre for Partnership and Performance (NCPP). NESDO and its constituent bodies (the NESC, NESF and NCPP), have played an important role in the development of national policy and through support for the social partnership process. However, the profoundly changed national and international context which has emerged in the past eighteen months has thrown up challenges that must shape the role of the NESDO and its constituent bodies in the coming years.

In order to maximise both effectiveness and value for money, the Government has decided to streamline the work of policy advice within the NESDO by amalgamating the three constituent bodies through absorbing the NESF and NCPP into the NESC. In consequence of this, the NESF and the NCPP will be dissolved with effect from a date to be specified in an order which will be made shortly under the National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006.