Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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89. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which the economic performance of all sectors has been monitored over the past five years to date; the extent to which specific areas have been identified for the need for improvement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24775/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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My Department monitors the overall performance of the economy and of individual sectors on an ongoing basis. Key sectors are subject to scrutiny as part of this process and also in reviews undertaken by line Departments to which my Department contributes or supports. For example, under the Action Plan for Jobs 2013, my Department is co-ordinating actions dealing with the property market. Also, having previously introduced a VAT reduction for the tourism sector as part of the Jobs Initiative, research into the impact of this measure was published in the Medium-Term Fiscal Statement (November 2012) and my Department continues to monitor developments in this sector. My Department is also represented on the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas established by the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government. In addition to this, my Department also monitors the performance of those sectors for which it has policy responsibility (e.g. financial services).