Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to his discussion to close the Combat Poverty Agency, if his attention has been drawn to the lease agreement in place for the Combat Poverty Agency offices prior to this decision; and the reason he did not disclose these details to Dáil Éireann; and if he will provide the details of the landlord of these premises. [13540/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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With effect from 1st July 2009 (in line with the Government Decision announced in Budget 2009), the Combat Poverty Agency and the Office for Social Inclusion were integrated to form the Social Inclusion Division within the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The Social Inclusion Division combines the experience and expertise of the staff of both bodies. The Government's decision was informed by the findings of a review of the Agency which was undertaken on foot of a Government decision of the 6th June 2007.

The primary reason for the integration of the Combat Poverty Agency with the Office for Social Inclusion was not to achieve short –term savings, but rather to ensure that the strongest possible mechanisms are in place to tackle poverty and social exclusion as recommended in the review of the Combat Poverty Agency.

Savings as a result of the integration include savings that arise in respect of board members' fees, accommodation and savings that arise as a result of the integration of support services such as combined personnel, payroll and ancillary services. Savings also arise on account of the non-filling of a number of short-term temporary staff positions that ended in June 2009 and as a result of the redeployment of a small number of administrative and HR support staff. It was envisaged that the extent and timing of the savings would be identified and dealt with as part of the implementation process with measures that could be advanced quickly to achieve administrative efficiencies and cost savings prioritised.

In accordance with the terms of the lease in place for the offices of the former Combat Poverty Agency, the Department will exercise its rights to break out of the lease in March 2011. There will be no penalty for exercising this option. The Department will use the space for its own Departmental purposes in the meantime.