Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being taken by him in regard to reform and cost saving measures to ensure cost savings and efficiencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38954/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has been engaged in an ongoing programme of reorganisation and structural reform at all levels. In the context of the 2012 Budget negotiations, my priorities have been to continue the process and to achieve further efficiencies and improved service delivery both within the Department and in the State bodies under its remit. I am determined to ensure that all schemes and services are delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible and the Comprehensive Expenditure Review, which was completed earlier in the year, was a rigorous exercise involving a thorough review and analysis of all elements of expenditure.

In addition to managing reduced funding for programmes in 2012, there will be a further reduction of €12m in the Administrative Budget for the Department. This saving will be implemented through a combination of reduced staffing levels, changes in work practices and the manner in which schemes are administered, reductions in disease levels resulting from more intensive and targeted controls, the advanced use of information technology and a programme of internal reviews of business units, including a root and branch review of the local office network, which has led to improved business processes and greater operational efficiency.

The programme of reorganisation and reform, both in my Department and agencies, has yielded and will deliver the following savings:

§ a 25% reduction in Department staffing levels from 4,800 in 2005 to less than 3,600 currently,

§ a 22% reduction, or about €68m, in the Administrative Budget for the Department in 2012 by comparison with 2008;

§ reductions in funding and staffing levels for State bodies,

§ the Local Office Re-organisation Programme will reduce the number of local offices from 58 to 16, when fully completed in 2012;

§ expansion of the shared services programme for agencies and other Government Departments.

I intend to keep the situation under close scrutiny to ensure the further improvements are introduced and that value for money is provided in the administration of the Department.