Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 417: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of State agencies in his Department which were abolished or merged since in 2011; the name and purpose of each one; the amount saved by the merger or abolition; the number planned to be merged or abolished in 2012; the name and purpose of each one; the amount expected to be saved from this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21585/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that no bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group have been abolished or merged since the establishment of the Department on 2 June 2011. As the Deputy is aware, the Government announced a series of rationalisation measures in the Public Service Reform Plan on 17 November 2011. A number of amalgamations, mergers and critical reviews of bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group are currently being progressed, as required under the Reform Plan. Details of these are reflected in the Plan, which can be accessed on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform – www.per.gov.ie .

As the Deputy will be aware, the priorities set out in the Programme for Government for the rationalisation of State agencies provide that rationalisation must be cost effective and lead to a more transparent, accountable and efficient public service. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is not possible at this stage to outline projected savings for each State body to be rationalised. However, the implications from this decision are currently being examined within my Department with a view to identifying savings, as well as opportunities for efficiencies and more effective service delivery.