Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

355. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the number of agencies, quangos or other bodies within his Department funded by or established by his Department which have been scrapped, merged or reduced since this Government was formed; the amount saved in each case; the reduction in staff as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18427/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department has neither established nor abolished any agency, quango or other body, since March 2011. Of the forty six bodies listed as candidates for critical review by end June 2012 in the Government’s Public Service ReformPlan, 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 (NMA) – 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).

A review group considered abolishing or merging the National Milk Agency with An Bord Bia. As the NMA does not receive any financial support from the State and its functions are quite distinct and separate from those of An Bord Bia, it has been decided not to proceed with this proposal. As regards BIM, the review group concluded that BIM should continue as a separate entity under the governance of the Department and this recommendation has been accepted. As the Irish Marine Development Office is already integrated with the Marine Institute from an administrative perspective no further action is required.