Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm the total number of State agencies, independent statutory bodies, State boards or other quangos which currently exist within his Department; if he will provide a breakdown of each, listing in particular full name, location, the total amount of funding allocated to each in 2011 and total staff number; the number of State agencies, independent statutory bodies, State boards or other quangos which have been abolished or wound down since he took office, and the total amount of savings achieved with each closure; the number of State agencies, independent statutory bodies, State boards or other quangos being considered for abolition in the context of Budget 2012; if he will furnish a list of the organisations under consideration, specifying in particular their annual running costs, primary function, and staff number in tabular form; if there is a rationalisation programme in place within his Department in respect of State agencies, independent statutory bodies, State boards or other quangos for the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34896/11]

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, their location, the number of Whole Time Equivalent staff and details of exchequer funding as of end September 2011 are outlined in the table below.

*The allocation with respect to the Limerick Regeneration Agencies refers to Capital funding provided for projects.

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 have been 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.

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.

Deliberations on Budget 2012 are ongoing, and the agency rationalisation/efficiency agenda is being kept under review insofar as all agencies under my Department's aegis are concerned.