Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 116: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, further to Parliamentary Question No. 81 of 21 January 2010, the reasons the staff complement of the National Consumer Agency has fallen by a third from 62 to 42 and the Competition Authority by a fifth from 54 to 43 when staff levels in other State agencies in her Department have either increased or had minor decreases; her views on the fact that the loss of such large numbers of staff will undermine the capacity of the soon to be merged bodies to function and fulfil their mandate to increase competition and protect consumers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11167/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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A moratorium on recruitment and promotions, applying to all public and civil service bodies, has been in place since March 2009. Recruitments and promotions cannot be made without the sanction of the Minister for Finance. This affects both the National Consumer Agency (NCA) and the Competition Authority. However, in recognition of the short-term resource problems being faced by the NCA, approval has been given by the Department of Finance to increase its staff complement to 52. The number of staff currently in the NCA is 46.2 whole-time equivalent.

The amalgamation of the NCA and the Competition Authority is part of the Government's plans for the rationalisation of State agencies. It is expected that efficiencies and synergies will result from this merger. Some cost reduction to the Exchequer in terms of certain functions being carried out by a smaller cohort of staff and associated resources will also emerge. However, a decision on the final staffing complement of the new merged body has yet to be decided-upon. As both the NCA and the Competition Authority were established under statute, it is necessary to give effect to the newly merged body by way of primary legislation. Since the date of the announcement my Department has being working, in conjunction with both bodies and the Department of Finance to bring about a smooth transition to a unified single body to oversee the area of competition and consumer protection. Work on the Heads of a Bill to provide for, inter alia, the merger of these two bodies is at an advanced stage. I hope to bring draft Heads to Government within the coming weeks and to publish the Bill during the course of the year.