Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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284. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of money which will be saved from current expenditure in 2014 from the announced closure and amalgamation of certain State bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32231/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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As the Deputy is aware, in 2011 the Government undertook a wide ranging and detailed review of State agencies across the public service, and this review process formed the basis of the State agency rationalisation programme.  This unprecedented programme of reform has resulted in almost 190 fewer State agencies, and there are a number of further measures in the process of being implemented.  More detailed information on the implementation of the rationalisation programme is available on my Department's web site, at , which provides information on progress up to end Quarter 1 2014.   

As already set out in the Government's Public Service Reform Plan, published in November 2011, and as outlined in PQ replies since then, the overall targeted savings from the rationalisation programme is €20 million in enhanced service efficiencies and value-for-money.  The bulk of the savings are derived from a reduction in the number of public servants working in the merged entities, which is reflected in the overall reduction in the Exchequer pay bill, and from other administrative efficiencies.  The share of the overall savings target acheived in 2014 will be determined by the progress made by individual departments, by end-year, on the the outstanding measures provided for in the programme.       

From the outset, I have maintained that the lasting and most important benefit from the rationalisation of State Bodies will be a less crowded administrative landscape, resulting in greater democratic accountability, less duplication of effort and clearer lines of responsibility for the citizen.