79 Deputy Brian Lenihan asked the Minister for Finance in relation to the comprehensive spending review, the person who is conducting the review and if there is external assistance provided for the review by way of participation or consultancy services. [8794/11]

80 Deputy Brian Lenihan asked the Minister for Finance the terms of reference of the comprehensive spending review. [8795/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 80 together.

Arrangements for the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure are being put in place by the relevant officials. It has been agreed by Government that each Department will undertake a root and branch evaluation of both its own expenditure and that of bodies within its remit, under the general oversight of a Steering Committee of senior officials. It is not proposed at this point to retain the services of external consultants. These Reports will be considered by the Government Economic Management Council and will form a key input to the Government's decisions on the annual Budget and Estimates process.

The objectives of the Expenditure Review process will be to provide the Government with a comprehensive set of decision options:

to meet the overall fiscal consolidation objectives, both as regards spending and numbers reduction targets;

to re-align spending with the Programme for Government priorities; and

in this context, to consider new ways of achieving Government objectives in the context of public sector reform.