Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if it is still intended to amalgamate the Ordnance Survey, Land Registry and Valuation Office into one body; and the timeframe for same. [30519/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The priorities set out in the Programme for Government for the rationalisation of State Agencies states that rationalisation must be cost effective and lead to a more transparent, accountable and efficient public service. The overriding imperative is the absolute requirement to achieve major savings in all areas of expenditure and to reduce staff numbers and administrative overheads. This underscores the need for radical streamlining of bodies, abolishing those bodies whose remit is no longer essential and amalgamation of other agencies or sharing of services between bodies, so that public services and functions can be delivered more cost-effectively.

The question of rationalisation and the reduction in the number of State bodies including Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Valuation Office and the Property Registration Authority is being considered in the context of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure and the overall budgetary and estimates process for 2012, and decisions on such matters will be made by the Government over the coming weeks.