Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Finance the timescale he envisages in bringing before the Dáil any instruments or resolutions which may be required to complete the transfer of responsibilities between existing and new Departments. [5204/11]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Finance the number and names of the Government Departments that will be in place on 31 March 2011. [5369/11]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Finance the details of arrangements which have been made to determine which statutory functions reserved for the Minister for Finance are to fall within the powers of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform; and the outcome of any such arrangements. [5197/11]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Finance the details of all arrangements which have been made to determine which statutory functions reserved for him are to fall within the powers of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform; the outcome of any such arrangements and the timeline for such arrangements to come in to place. [5241/11]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 60: To ask the Minister for Finance the specific powers he intends to delegate to Ministers of State in his Department. [5252/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 45, 46, 52, 57 and 60 together.

It is envisaged that the transfer of Public Expenditure and Reform functions from the Department/Minister for Finance to the Department/Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will require primary legislation. Work on the legislation has commenced and is being given top priority. Discussions are still proceeding about the transfer of staff and functions and, in the circumstances, it is not possible to give a definitive answer in relation to the specific functions which will transfer and those which will remain with the Minister for Finance.

Transfers of Departmental functions are carried out by Government Order under powers contained in section 6(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1939, while in some cases primary legislation may be needed. This aspect of the changes announced by the Taoiseach is still being examined in Departments. Each Order needs to be carefully drafted so that all relevant legislation is listed in the Schedule to the Order. The Departments which currently hold the functions which are being transferred to another Department are fully engaged in this task at present. The draft Orders will need to be finalised and settled in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel before they can be brought to Government.

Once this process has been finalised, I will bring the necessary Orders to Government. At this stage, I cannot give a precise date for the formal transfer of functions as this depends on a number of factors, including the complexity of the legislation governing the particular functions. Pending such Orders, arrangements are as heretofore including the name and number of Departments which existed on 8 March 2011.

I can assure the Deputy that everyone involved in the process, both in my own Department and in the other Departments concerned, is making every effort to complete it at the earliest possible date and I hope that it can be brought to conclusion within a matter of weeks. The Orders will be published in Iris Oifigiuil and laid before the House without delay when made by the Government.