Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 499: To ask the Minister for Health 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. [32853/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Under the previous rationalisation of State Agencies programme which commenced in July 2008, my Department committed to an ambitious reduction in the number of health agencies which totalled 34 at that time. It was decided at the time not to introduce omnibus legislation dealing with rationalisation of agencies which meant that separate amending legislation was needed in the case of each agency. This has inevitably been a slow process.

The Children Acts Advisory Board was dissolved on 8th September 2011. To date eight agencies have been dissolved and legislation is at various stages of preparation to deal with a further five. We now have 20 agencies (excluding the HSE) which we are on track to reduce to 15. It should also be noted that 8 of our agencies are either completely or largely self funding.

My Department is currently preparing proposals concerning the organisational arrangements arising from the commitment in the Programme for Government that the HSE will cease to exist. However, the size of the HSE makes it an exceptional case and the organisational changes are being dealt with as part of the overall health reform programme.