Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 11: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of State agencies and other new bodies that have been announced; the number abolished since 31 March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28308/12]

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on his review of State agencies; and if the review will be completed and published in June 2012. [28257/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 14 together.

As the Deputy will be aware the Public Service Reform Plan, published in November last year, demonstrated the Government's commitment to reform and the pursuit of efficiencies by deciding (i) to proceed with the rationalisation of 48 bodies by the end of 2012 and (ii) the critical review of a further 46 bodies by the end of June 2012. Details of the bodies involved are set out in Appendices IIa and IIb of the Plan.

With regard to the progress made on the rationalisation of the 48 bodies by end 2012, my Department is monitoring progress on the implementation of these measures, on a quarterly basis. Details of the completed actions as well as progress on the other measures, as of end Quarter 1 of this year, are set out in the table below.

The critical reviews of 46 bodies are underway and due for completion at the end of this month. Following consideration of the reviews by my Department, I intend to bring a Memorandum to Government setting out the results of the review process. The Government will then make the necessary decisions on the various recommendations / next steps in the reform programme.

Questions regarding the creation of new bodies are a matter for individual Departments and should be directed to the relevant Ministers. In terms of my own Department, no new bodies or agencies have been created since March 31 2011. However, I have re-organised resources within my Department to set up a Reform and Delivery Office, the role of which is to lead and drive the implementation of the Public Service Reform Plan and to coordinate the various reform initiatives across the public service.

I have also established, as part of the broader public service development role of my Department, the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES), the role of which is to support Departments in evaluating policy and expenditure options; value for money exercises; cost benefit and regulatory impact analyses; and regulatory and competition issues. Recruitment of new economists into the IGEES has now commenced and these recruits will supplement existing economic and analytical resources across the public service.

(i) Appendix 1 – Completed Actions end Q1 2012