Written answers
Thursday, 20 January 2011
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Departmental Agencies
5:00 am
Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of State agencies identified for abolition or merger in his Department; the number of agencies which have been merged or abolished to date in his Department; the total net savings which have been made in respect of each State agency arising from its merger or abolition in his Department; the likely date for merger or abolition and the reason for the delay in respect of each State agency which has not already been merged with another State agency or abolished in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3001/11]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The information the Deputy requested on the abolition and merger of agencies under the remit of my Department since its establishment in 2007 is outlined on the table below. Proposals numbered 3 to 7 were made in the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes (McCarthy Report). As the Deputy is aware that Report outlined a wide range of proposals across all Departments, a number of which, if agreed by Government to proceed, can only be achieved through restructuring over a number of years. The consideration of the proposals contained in the McCarthy Report for my Department and the Agencies under its aegis is ongoing.
| Proposals since establishment of Department in June 2007 | Current Status/Savings |
| 1. Abolish The National Salmon Commission | Abolished on the enactment of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010. No Exchequer spending was incurred in relation to the National Salmon Commission in either 2009 or 2010. |
| 2. Merge BCI and BCC | BCI and BCC were dissolved under the Broadcasting Act 2009 and subsumed into the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. The BAI is now a levy based organisation and is not funded by the Exchequer. The last full year of Exchequer funding in 2008 amounted to €6.5m. |
| 3. Merge DHDA with EI/IDA(McCarthy Report) | Review of DHDA currently underway |
| 4. Merge ComReg with BAI(McCarthy Report) | Not implemented |
| 5. Transfer IFCO into BAI(McCarthy Report) | Not implemented |
| 6. Merge OSi and the Valuation Office with the PRA(McCarthy Report) | Not implemented |
| 7. Merge Regional Fisheries Boards(McCarthy Report) | Merger took effect on 1 July 2010 on the establishment of Inland Fisheries Ireland following the enactment of the Inland Fisheries Ireland Act 2010. Direct Exchequer funding for Inland Fisheries Ireland was reduced by €2.582 million in 2010 compared to 2009 and a further €0.761 million is expected in 2011 although not all of this is attributable to savings arising from restructuring of the inland fisheries sector. |
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