Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of bodies that have been abolished or amalgamated by his Department out of the list of bodies listed in the Public Service Reform document of 17 November 2011; the savings or cost of this in 2012; the projected savings or cost of this programme in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50535/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that I have not abolished any State Bodies since taking office on 9 March 2011. My Department has reviewed the rationalisation proposals for agencies under its aegis as set out in the Public Service Reform Plan. The outcome of this review, which was recently published by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, is that the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) will be merged (initially on an administrative basis) with Dublin City Council (DCC) by the end of 2012, pending enactment of legislation, which is expected to yield short term savings of approximately €400k, which amounts to over 20% of the Exchequer current subvention. The most significant benefits to be gained from a merger of the DHDA with DCC are the synergies created from a closer relationship between the DHDA and the range of disciplines and skills available within the DCC.

In addition, the Government also announced further proposed mergers, which include provision for the Ordnance Survey of Ireland to merge with the Valuation Office and Property Registration Authority by the end of 2013. The merger potentially provides an opportunity for more efficient and cost-effective delivery of land and property administration services. Medium term savings are likely to be achievable in the areas of common back office functions such as HR, conventional (non-specialised) IT systems, Financial Management and Corporate Services. There may also be potential savings in the areas of accommodation and software licences. In the longer term, more efficiencies/synergies in delivery of the merged organisation’s services may lead to further savings in operational areas. Additional commercial revenues which would reduce the burden on the State may also be achievable in the medium to long term. The lead Department in relation to this rationalisation is the Department of Justice and Equality.

There is also provision for the back-office administrative functions of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) to be merged with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) by the end of 2013. I would advise the Deputy that neither BAI nor ComReg are Exchequer funded and any savings achieved would not accrue to the Exchequer. Future tangible back office savings derive mainly from the merging of the support systems and pooling of outsourced functions and external consultancies in the short to medium term.