Agencies to go but most services will remain

THE number of state agencies will be reduced by 48 by the end of next year but few of the services will be abolished. Instead, most will be merged with other bodies or absorbed into government departments.

For example, the Competition Authority and National Consumer Agency will be merged into a single Consumer and Competition Authority that will serve both functions.

The Government acknowledged that many of the 48 quangos had already been earmarked for abolition by the previous administration.