Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 234: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs which recommendations contained in the McCarthy report pertain to his Department; the detail of each and proposed savings relating to his Department; which of these have been implemented to date and the expected savings to be achieved on each of these in one calendar year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36980/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes presented a set of options to reduce expenditure and staff numbers across the public sector. These options were considered by the Government within the context of framing the 2010 Budget.

Gross savings of some €57 million, or almost 12%, were achieved in the 2010 Revised Estimates Volume (REV) for the Vote of the then Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, relative to the 2009 REV. While the allocations in most expenditure programmes were reduced, the primary concern was to make every effort to ensure that the daily front-line services provided with funding from my Department were protected, especially those focused on the needs of the most socially deprived communities.

With regard to the reduction in staff numbers, the Government's moratorium on staff recruitment and promotion and other associated measures, including the incentivised early retirement scheme, have achieved, and continue to achieve, reductions in staff numbers across my Department and relevant agencies.

In terms of specific recommendations by the Special Group, one key recommendation was predicated on the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs being dissolved and its functions transferred to other Departments. Other recommendations related to the abolition or transfer between Departments of specified functions. In this regard, the Deputy will be aware that, as part of the restructuring of Departments and agencies announced in March last by the Taoiseach to ensure greater coherence and produce more efficient delivery, my Department has taken over responsibility for (i) social inclusion policy and family policy from the Department of Social Protection and (ii) equality, disability, integration and human rights from the Department of Justice and Law Reform.

In relation to other recommendations by the Special Group, it may be noted that · The funding of a number of programmes referred to is subject to ongoing consideration of options in the context of the forthcoming Budget.

· The Government's key objective in the cohesion process at this time is to ensure greater efficiencies and value for money through the new Local and Community Development Programme. This will be subject to robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. It will be implemented through a single delivery structure in each area from 1st January 2011. The number of local community development groups (incorporating Partnerships and LEADER companies) has already reduced from 94 to 52. The consolidation/reduction of other structures under my Department's remit, for example, Family Resource Centres, will be reviewed over the coming period.

· The future of the Western Development Commission remains under consideration in the context of the ongoing general review of enterprise structures.

· The drafting of a Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill, which will, inter alia, dissolve the Dormant Accounts Board, is underway. It is anticipated that the Bill will be published during the present parliamentary session.

· Options in relation to the future functions of the Family Support Agency are under review.

· Proposals relating to the reallocation of some functions of the Equality Tribunal will fall to be considered in the context of the review of the equality and human rights bodies currently under way.

· Responsibility for the Community Services Programme has transferred to the Department of Social Protection.

· The Gaeltacht Housing Grant Scheme was suspended in April 2009. While existing commitments under the scheme continue to be met, no new commitments have been created since that time.

· Other issues with regard to the funding of Irish language/Gaeltacht programmes and the future role of Údarás na Gaeltachta are subject to ongoing consideration in the context of both the forthcoming Budget and the anticipated publication of the 20-year Strategy for Irish. The draft Strategy was published some time ago and has been subject to review by the relevant Oireachtas Committee. It is anticipated that the matter will be re-submitted to Government in the coming period. It may be noted that there is no requirement under the Official Languages Act that all official publications be translated into Irish. The requirement applies only to a limited range of cases.

The Deputy will appreciate that, in the context of the foregoing, any calculation of savings arising would be premature at this stage.