Fine Gael defends plan for new State agencies

FINE GAEL has defended the number of State bodies it has promised to introduce if returned to power - despite the party also pledging it would achieve better value for money than the current Government.

In a joint policy document published with Labour in March, Fine Gael promised to review existing State agencies if elected to office. The goal would be to eliminate waste.

"A major review should be undertaken of existing agencies to establish the scope for consolidation and sharing of services," the document stated.