asked the Minister for Economic Planning and Development the number, grade and purpose of each post in the National Economic and Social Council; and the extent to which the functions of or posts in the council will now be either transferred to or duplicated by his Department.
Written Answers. - NESC Posts.
296.
The Secretariat of the National Economic and Social Council does not comprise an approved number of posts of specific grades. Actual staffing of the secretariat varies in response to the work undertaken by the council. At present five persons are employed. These comprise three civil servants on secondment—two clerical assistants and an executive officer— and two others whose remuneration falls within the administrative officer scale. In addition another person is employed on a part-time basis. In general the work of the secretariat relates to the provision of assistance in the compilation of reports and normal secretarial duties arising from the work of the council and its committees.
The functions of the council will not be affected by the establishment of the proposed Department of Economic Planning and Development. Consesequently; there is no question of transferring to, or duplicating in the proposed Department the functions at present performed by the secretariat. The civil servants at present seconded to the council are on loan from the Department of Finance and will be transferred to the proposed Department when it is established.