Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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279. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of quangos, State agencies or organisations under the remit of his Department that have been merged, reformed or abolished since 2011; the details of each of these measures in tabular form; the cost saving or service delivery improvement which has resulted; how many more he expects to be merged, reformed or abolished and the timeline for same; if he will provide a full list of all agencies and organisations under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1970/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There are currently 12 State Bodies that fall under the aegis of my Department:

1. Aqua Licensing Appeals Board

2. Bord Bia

3. Bord na gCon

4. Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM)

5. Coillte

6. Horse Racing Ireland

7. Irish National Stud

8. Marine Institute

9. National Milk Agency

10. Sea Fisheries Protection Authority

11. Teagasc

12. Veterinary Council of Ireland

My Department has neither established nor abolished any quasi-Governmental organisation or agency, since March 2011.

Of the forty six bodies listed as candidates for critical review by end of June 2012 in the Government’s Public Service Reform Plan, published in November 2011 by the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) three from this Department were reviewed for possible abolition or merger.

1. National Milk Agency - to consider abolishing or merging with Bord Bia

2. Irish Marine Development Office – functions to be subsumed into the Marine Institute

3. Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) – to consider subsuming certain functions into this Department. (The marketing functions of BIM had been transferred to Bord Bia prior to the period in question)

Following the outcomes of these reviews it has been decided that the National Milk Agency will not be abolished nor merged with Bord Bia. BIM’s functions will not be subsumed into this Department and as the Irish Marine Development Office is already integrated with the Marine Institute from an administrative perspective no further action is required.