Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 326: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government 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 of 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. [32850/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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As part of a rigorous appraisal of the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department, I announced, in October, 2011, further measures in relation to the rationalisation programme with the overall number of agencies being reduced from 21 to 12. The Agencies under the aegis of my Department are identified in the table below.

An Chomhairle Leabharlanna will be dissolved, with any key residual functions to be subsumed into an existing public body.

The Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency (HSCA) has been established and is operating on an administrative basis. It rationalises the functions of the National Building Agency (NBA), the Affordable Homes Partnership (AHP) and the Centre for Housing Research (CHR). The AHP and the CHR have been closed down and the NBA is in the process of being wound down.

The Local Government Management Services Board and the Local Government Computer Services Board are merging as the Local Government Management Agency. Pending necessary legislation, a common board and Chief Executive have been put in place on an interim basis and joint management arrangements are being implemented. The rationalisation process includes the closure of regional offices in Limerick and Waterford and other non-pay savings have been achieved by rationalising the use of products and services such as software licensing, hardware infrastructure, phone systems etc.

The Limerick Northside and Southside Regeneration Agencies are being serviced by a single executive, and resources freed up through this are being used to deliver the Phase 1 implementation plans for Limerick Regeneration. (The agencies' roles will be replaced through the development of a joint management arrangement in 2012 for Limerick City and Limerick County Council as a step to the merger of the two Councils).

The functions of the Fire Services Council are now subsumed into my Department.

The sustainable development role performed by Comhar, the Sustainable Development Council, is to be integrated into the National Economic and Social Council (NESC).

The administrative functions of the Rent Tribunal have transferred to the Private Residential Tenancies Board.

The agency rationalisation/efficiency agenda will be kept under review insofar as all agencies under my Department's aegis are concerned.

Pobal, is a not-for-profit company with charitable status, which manages programmes on behalf of the Irish Government and the EU.

The Dormant Accounts Board operated with Departmental administrative support. The Dormant Accounts Board (Amendment) Bill 2011 proposes to dissolve the Dormant Accounts Board.