Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown by organisation of the employment levels for each year in the non-commercial State agencies section and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45112/10]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason he has not chosen to rationalise State agencies in the Government's four year plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45319/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 130 together.

The following table A provides a breakdown of Non-commercial State Agency (NCSA) staffing for the end of 2008, 2009 and the end of the third quarter this year by Ministerial Vote Group. Table A also sets out the indicative NCSA ceilings by Ministerial Vote Group, consistent with the National Recovery Plan. I am not in a position to provide a breakdown of each Ministerial NCSA staffing ceiling by organisation for future years because that is a matter for each Minister to decide on an ongoing basis in light of their and the Government's policy priorities.

With regard to agency rationalisation, I should point out that the comprehensive programme of rationalisation that I announced in Budget 2009 (October 2008) is still being implemented. To date, implementation has resulted in a net reduction of 22 bodies and has secured estimated full year savings of over €10 million. In addition to the 2009 Budget measures, the Government has taken further rationalisation decisions such as the recent decision to rationalise the number of VECs from 33 down to 16 and the absorption of the National Economic and Social forum by the National Economic Council. The implementation of these further decisions has resulted in a further net reduction of 4 bodies; bringing the total net reduction to 26.

I would also draw the Deputy's attention to Page 69 of the National Recovery Plan where it is stated that the programme of State Agency rationalisation that commenced in 2008 will continue with a particular emphasis on:

· reducing the number and range of agencies;

· redeploying staff to areas of greatest need;

· improving governance and performance arrangements; and

· sharing services

This reduction in allocations in conjunction with revised employment ceilings will, accordingly, involve the continued rationalisation of Agencies.