Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Finance the action he has taken to date to fulfil the commitment in the programme for Government to make substantial cuts to the number of State bodies and companies; the number of such bodies and companies under his remit; the number that have been reformed, merged or abolished since March this year; the plan in place within his Department to fully deliver on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32851/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The question of rationalisation and the reduction in the number of State bodies 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.

In relation to State bodies the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) comes under the aegis of my Department. The National Treasury Management Agency is also the State Claims Agency, the manager of the National Pension Reserve Fund and the body through which the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) performs its functions. The NTMA is also required to provide business services to the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA). NewERA has also been established in the NTMA, initially on a non-statutory basis.

Other bodies which come under the aegis of my Department include the Central Bank of Ireland, the Credit Union Advisory Committee, Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, Financial Services Ombudsman Council and the Irish Financial Services Appeals Tribunal.

The Fiscal Advisory Council has recently been established under the aegis of my Department but is independent of it.

In the period in question none of these bodies has been reformed, merged or abolished. The Deputy will be aware that major restructuring is under way in the banking sector, especially in those credit institutions where the State has a controlling interest.