Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will detail all transfers of responsibilities which have been completed to date as a result of his departmental reorganisation announced on 9 March 2011; and the timeframe for all remaining transfers. [9872/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The process of transferring functions from one Department to another is carried out by means of Government Orders under powers contained in section 6(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1939, while in some cases primary legislation may be needed. Each order is carefully drafted so that all relevant legislation is listed in the Schedule to the order. The Departments which held the functions which are being transferred to other Departments have been fully engaged in this task since the Taoiseach's announcements on 9 March. Orders to implement the majority of the changes have already been made. On 29 March the Government made an order transferring responsibility for the functions of the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs in relation to Equality, Integration, Disability and Human Rights to the Minister of Justice and Law Reform with effect from 1 April 2011. A second order was made to change the title of the Minister for Justice and Law Reform to the Minister for Justice and Equality - and a similar name change for the Minister's Department, with effect from 2 April 2011.

At the same Government meeting an order transferring responsibility for the functions of the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport in relation to Tourism and Sport to the Minister for Transport with effect from 1 April 2011 was made. A further order was made to change the title of the Minister for Transport to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, and a similar name change for the Minister's Department, with effect from 2 April 2011.

On 5 April the Government made orders to transfer the functions of the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs in relation to Marine Tourism to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the functions in relation to the National Drug Strategy to the Minister for Health and Children, the functions in relation to Social Inclusion to the Minister for Social Protection, and the functions in relation to Gaeilge, Gaeltacht and the Islands to the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport. Each of these transfers came into effect on 1 May 2011.

On 19 April the Government made orders transferring the heritage functions from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport with effect from 1 May 2011. The Department became the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government on 2 May 2011. The Taoiseach also signed orders on 19 April transferring further functions from the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs. These functions included the Community functions, Waterways Ireland and the Charities functions.

On 10 May the Government made orders transferring functions of the Minister for Education and Skills regarding the National Educational Welfare Board to the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs. Residual functions of the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs were transferred to the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport. The resulting 'shell' of the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, which has been left containing only Family Affairs and the Family Support Agency, has permitted an order to be signed with effect from 2 June 2011 renaming the Department as the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

On May 10 the Government also signed an order transferring the Office of the Minister for Children functions, with effect from 3 June 2011, from the Minister for Health and Children to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. This in turn allowed an order to be signed renaming, with effect from 4 June 2011, the Minister for Health and Children and the Department of Health and Children as the Minister for Health and the Department of Health respectively.

The Taoiseach also signed an order on 10 May transferring, with effect from 1 June 2011, the residual functions of the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport in relation to Tourism and Sport to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. This has allowed an order to be signed renaming, with effect from 2 June 2011, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport and the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport as the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht respectively.

On 24 May an order was signed transferring, with effect from 1 June 2011, the functions of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation in relation to foreign trade to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. This has allowed these departments to be renamed, with effect from 2 June, as the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade respectively.

The Department of Justice and Equality has indicated that they are in discussion with the Attorney General's Office regarding the necessary legislative instruments to give effect to the transfer of certain functions of the Irish Youth Justice Service to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is also in discussion with the Attorney General's Office regarding the necessary legislative instruments to give effect to the transfer of the Irish Coast Guard to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (which will subsequently be renamed the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine).

The implementation of these various changes may well require primary legislation. Primary legislation will be necessary to facilitate further transfer of functions in relation to child care to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and is at an advanced stage. The Second Stage debate on the legislation to establish the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform was concluded on 2 June. It is proposed to hold the Committee Stage Debate shortly.

At this stage, I cannot give a precise date for the completion of all of the changes to the structures of Government Departments as this depends on a number of factors, including the complexity of the legislation governing the particular functions. I can assure the Deputy that everyone involved in the process, both in my own Department, in the Office of the Attorney General and in the other Departments concerned, is making every effort to complete all of the changes at the earliest possible date.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide a date for the establishment of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. [10721/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to advise that the Second Stage debate on the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011, which will provide a legislative basis to allow for the formal establishment of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and for the transfer of certain functions from the Minister for Finance, was concluded on 2 June 2011. I am hopeful that all stages will be concluded in the Houses over the coming weeks.