Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 60: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform 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. [3759/12]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform 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. [3785/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 79 together.

The Government is proceeding with its plans to rational some 48 bodies by the end of 2012 as announced in The Public Service Reform Plan of 17 November 2011. Each Department is responsible for the bodies under their remit and will be providing a response in relation projected savings in relation to the bodies under their remit which are included in the current phase of the rationalization process.

In relation to bodies under the remit of my Department the potential to merge the Office of the Commission for Public Sector Appointments (CPSA) with the Office of the Ombudsman was identified in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes (McCarthy Report). That Report included an estimate of projected savings of €300,000 to be achieved through the proposed merger. The Public Service Reform Plan of 17 November 2011 also referred to the merging of the CPSA with the Office of the Ombudsman. While steps have been taken with a view to merging the two Offices, the merger has not been completed and legislation will be required to give full effect to the merger and to identify savings realised.

The merger took place on an administrative basis with effect from 1 October 2010, leading to greater efficiencies through flexibility in the deployment of staff and the amalgamation of back office functions. It is envisaged that the necessary legislative measures to give full statutory effect to the merger will be included in a Bill to amend the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004, proposals for which are being prepared in my Department.