Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the future role of Ordnance Survey Ireland and the Valuation Office and efficiencies that can be delivered between these agencies and the Property Registration Authority. [36834/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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On 17th November the Government announced its intention to rationalise 48 State agencies by the end of 2012 with a further 48 such agencies to be critically reviewed by 2012. The three agencies mentioned in the Deputy's Question fall into this latter category and it is proposed to critically review by the end of June 2012 the merger of the Ordnance Survey of Ireland and the Valuation Office into the Property Registration Authority of Ireland (PRAI).

The PRAI is an independent statutory body falling under the aegis of my Department. The other two agencies, the Ordnance Survey of Ireland (OSI) and the Valuation Office (VO) fall under the aegis of other Government Departments. I am therefore not in a position to respond to the Deputy in relation to the future role of the OSI and the VO and the efficiencies that can be delivered as these agencies do not fall within the remit of my Department and I have no responsibility for them.

I can, however, inform the Deputy that, on the face of it, certain synergies appear to exist between the activities of the bodies concerned and that the matters which he has raised will be the subject of a detailed analysis to be undertaken in the coming months by an inter-departmental group which will incorporate consideration of all relevant issues including financial, legislative and personnel matters. When the review has been completed the Government will then be in a position to make a decision and to report on these matters.