Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Health 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. [34899/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Table A outlines the non-commercial state agencies under the aegis of my Department, their allocation where funded by the Department and staff (WTE) numbers. Table B outlines the boards\agencies to which I nominate/appoint board members but are funded through the HSE, with the exception of the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal, whose funding is administered through this Department..

One agency, the Children Acts Advisory Board, (allocation of €0.45m and staffing (WTE) of 16) was dissolved on 8th September 2011. The VHI is the only Commercial State Agency within my Department. The primary aim of the programme of agency rationalisation within the health sector is to streamline service delivery, professional registration and policy making in a number of areas, through the integration and/or amalgamation of functions. The rationalisation programme involves a significant legislative programme and a considerable amount of work is ongoing in this area at present.

5 Bodies are currently being dissolved/subsumed; National Cancer Registry Board, Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council, Optician Board, National Council for Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery and the Drug Treatment Centre Board, with legislation at various stages of preparation. With regard to staff numbers, all staff employed by an Agency prior to rationalisation transfer to the employ of the receiving Agency. A reduction in numbers employed will only arise when staff leave on expiry of a contract at some future date or in the case of permanent staff reaching retirement age.

The future reconfiguration of agencies within my Department is currently being considered by Government.

TABLE A

TABLE B