Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Finance further to the report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure which set out recommendations on the rationalisation of State agencies and quangos, the agencies or quangos that have been rationalised; the ones that remain to be rationalised; the total reduction in job numbers and the number employed in each agency or quango. [4333/11]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes outlined 43 rationalisation measures concerning State agencies and other bodies and information on the status of these proposals, including information on the numbers employed, as reported to my Department is set out in Table 1. In summary, 3 decisions have been taken to implement the proposed rationalisations in full. There will be a reduction of 20 bodies as a result. Decisions have also been taken to implement a further 11 proposals in part. Further information in relation to individual rationalisation decisions should be sought from the relevant Minister. These rationalisation decisions are in addition to the 30 decisions announced in Budget 2009, 19 of which have been implemented to date. Given the variety of factors that affect public service numbers policy, it is not possible to determine accurately the total reduction in public sector numbers associated with individual policy decisions taken to date. Overall public service numbers have reduced by over 12,000 since end 2008. This is due to a range of factors, including the moratorium on recruitment and promotion, the introduction of a new numbers control framework as recommended by the Special Group, the rationalisation of State Agencies and bodies and Government priorities in regard to public service provision. In addition, the public service numbers ceilings as set out on Page 64 of the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014 will see the number employed in the public service reduced to under 295,000 by the end of 2014.

I would also draw the Deputy's attention to Page 69 of the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014 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 The reduction in expenditure allocations over the period of the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014 in conjunction with revised employment ceilings will, accordingly, require continued progress across Departments and Offices in the rationalisation of Agencies as appropriate.

Table 1: Agency Rationalisations in the Special Group Report