Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 467: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures that have been put in place to date with regard to rationalisation of the State bodies under his aegis listed in appendix IIA of the Government statement on public service reform as announced on 17 November 2011. [4542/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The list of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, as it appeared in Appendix IIA of the Government Statement on Public Service Reform, 17 November 2011, is repeated below.

The Local Government Management Services Board and the Local Government Computer Services Board are merging as the Local Government Management Agency. A Chief Executive is in place and joint management arrangements have been 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.

Plans are at an advanced stage for the dissolution of An Chomhairle Leabharlanna, with certain key residual functions to be subsumed into an existing public body; these will be delivered with a much reduced staffing level and cost base. Comhar (Sustainable Development Council) was discontinued at the end of 2011 and its sustainable development role is currently being integrated into the work of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC).

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 Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2011 proposes to amend existing dormant accounts legislation so as to dissolve the Dormant Accounts Board and transfer the statutory functions of the Board to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. The Bill was published on 5 September, 2011. It has passed all stages in the Seanad and is currently at Second Stage (resumed) in the Dáil.

The Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Amendment Bill is due to be published in the current Dáil session. This will provide a legislative basis for the new Local Government Management Agency, as well as the dissolution of An Chomhairle Leabharlanna.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 468: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the assessment and reporting mechanism he has put in place to enable Departments to continually assess the business case for the State bodies under their aegis. [4559/12]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 470: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if robust service level agreements between parent Departments and State bodies are now in place for all non-commercial State agencies. [4573/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 468 and 470 together.

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 agency rationalisation/efficiency agenda is being kept under review insofar as all agencies under my Department's aegis are concerned.

There are existing monitoring arrangements between my Department and the non-commercial state agencies under its remit. These arrangements typically include regular monitoring of expenditure and liaison on operational issues as appropriate and are facilitated through participation on the Boards/councils of agencies and regular contact and meetings between line sections of the Department and agencies. A process is under way to improve the performance management and governance oversight of State Agencies under my Department's remit. This process will include the introduction of, inter alia, Service Level Agreements as appropriate.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 469: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the projected savings for each State agency to be rationalised as set out in the recent public service reform plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4566/12]

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. Overall, savings in the order of €1.9 million have been achieved to date in the agency rationalisation process and I anticipate that this should rise significantly. Agency staff numbers are targeted to fall to 712 by 2015 as compared to 951 at end 2008 – a reduction of 239 (25%).