asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the precise functions formally and informally allocated to the Minister of State in his Department.
Written Answers. - Functions of Ministers of State.
413.
The Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach is the Government Whip. In addition, the Government, under section 2 of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1977, have delegated to the Minister of State the following powers and duties of the Taoiseach in relation to the Central Statistics Office: (1) powers of appointment of staff to the Central Statistics Office under section 2 (2) of the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924; (2) powers exercised by the Taoiseach under the Statistics Acts, 1926 and 1946; (3) powers of discipline and recruitment under the Civil Service Regulations Acts, 1956 and 1958, and the Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956, in so far as those Acts relate to the Central Statistics Office.
The Minister of State also exercises certain functions as Minister of State at the Department of Defence. These relate to the Council of Defence and Civil Defence matters.
414.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the precise functions formally and informally allocated to the Minister of State in his Department.
The Minister of State at the Department of Defence, who is also a Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, provides general support and assistance to me as Minister for Defence. He is also a member of the Council of Defence established under the Defence Act, 1954, to aid and counsel me on all matters in relation to the business of the Department of Defence on which I may consult the council. In addition, the Government have by order delegated all the statutory powers and duties of the Minister for Defence regarding Civil Defence under the Air-Raid Precautions Act, 1939 (No. 21 of 1939), and the Air-Raid Precautions Act, 1946 (No. 28 of 1946) to the Minister of State at my Department.
415.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the precise functions formally and informally allocated to the Ministers of State in his Department.
Subject to my overall control in relation to such key issues as policy, finance and legislation, I have arranged that the Ministers of State will have continuing functions in respect of the operation of the following services:
Minister of State (Deputy Fahey)
(1) Roads
(a) Public roads (including bridges and toll schemes)—maintenance and improvement (including public lighting).
(b) Traffic management and regulation, including signposting.
(c) Driver controls, including driver testing.
(d) Vehicle controls (including taxis); vehicles registration.
(e) Local improvement schemes.
(2) Environmental Services
(a) Sanitary services—public water and sewerage, and group water.
(b) Fire services.
(c) Pollution control—comprising control of pollution in respect of oil, air, water and noise.
(d) Environmental improvement schemes.
(e) Miscellaneous environmental services including water safety and libraries.
(3) Combined Purchasing
Minister of State (Deputy Connolly)
Housing
(a) Local authority housing and the National Building Agency.
(b) Private housing, including grants, house price control and the structural guarantee scheme.
(c) Building regulations.
In addition it is envisaged that functions will be delegated on an ad hoc basis in relation to other matters from time to time.
416.
asked the Minister for Education if he will outline the precise functions formally and informally allocated to the Minister of State in his Department.
The following areas of responsibility in my Department have been formally delegated to the Minister of State: (a) the National Museum of Science and Art, (b) the National Library, (c) the National Gallery, (d) special and remedial education, (e) the free school books scheme, (f) the free school transport scheme, (g) out-of-school education for young people, (h) sport, and (i) youth employment.
417.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will outline the precise functions formally and informally allocated to the Ministers of State in his Department.
While formal arrangements to delegate certain powers and duties to the Ministers of State at my Department have not yet been finalised, the following informal allocations have been made:
Deputy Hussey
Land Commission, western drainage scheme, farm modernisation scheme, new western package, disadvantaged areas scheme.
Deputy Allen
Advisory, training and research, including An Foras Talúntais, An Comhairle Oiliúna Talmhaíochta, county committees of agriculture, agricultural schools and colleges, universities.
Livestock breeding, including artificial insemination, progeny and performance testing, milk recording.
Bord na gCapall, Bord na gCon, National Stud, An Comhairle Olla.
418.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism if he will outline the precise functions formally and informally allocated to the Minister of State in his Department.
Apart from the provision of general support and assistance to me as Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism, including acting as ministerial delegate to EEC meetings, I have allocated to Deputy R. Burke, Minister of State, on an informal basis, responsibility for the following areas of my Department's functions: (i) Trade (including foreign trade, trade regulation, dumping, general EEC matters); (ii) insurance, company law and mergers; (iii) patents; (iv) Irish Goods Council/Kilkenny Design Workshop; (v) Consumer affairs (including consumer protection/information/credit); (vi) restrictive practices and distribution; (vii) standards and weights and measures; (viii) Registry of Friendly Societies; (ix) minor price applications and day-to-day business of National Prices Commission—prices prosecutions.
419.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the precise functions formally and informally allocated to the Minister of State in his Department.
The general functions of the Minister of State at the Department of Finance are the provision of general support and assistance to the Minister for Finance and the discharge of responsibilities in relation to the Office of Public Works.
420.
asked the Minister for Labour if he will outline the precise functions formally and informally allocated to the Minister of State in his Department.
No functions relating to the Department of Labour have yet been allocated, formally or informally, to the Minister of State at the Department, who is at present engaged primarily on functions relating to the Department of the Public Service. It is intended to delegate certain functions formally to the Minister for State and an order for this purpose will be made in the near future.
421.
asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will outline the precise functions formally and informally allocated to the Minister of State in his Department.
The functions informally allocated to the Minister of State include the provision to me of general support and assistance through receiving and considering representations, considering policy alternatives, directing departmental business and attending to parliamentary business.
It is intended to delegate formally functions to the Minister of State and an order for this purpose will be made in the near future.
422.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will outline the precise functions formally and informally allocated to the Minister of State in his Department.
All the powers and duties vested in the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs under the Acts specified below are formally delegated to the Minister of State at my Department by the Posts and Telegraphs (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1980 (S.I. No. 20 of 1980): Post Office Acts, 1908 to 1969; Wireless Telegraphy Acts, 1926 to 1972; Telegraph Act, 1885; Post Office (Parcels) Act, 1882; Post Office Savings Bank Acts, 1861 to 1958; Civil Service Regulation Acts, 1956 and 1958; Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956; Civil Service (Employment of Married Women) Act, 1973; Finance Act, 1942; Ministers and Secretaries Acts, 1924 to 1977.
Responsibility for computerisation, the Post Office Users' Council and other responsibilities of a general nature relating to the telecommunications and postal services have also been allocated by me to the Minister of State.
423.
asked the Taoiseach if, in the light of the Government's decision to appoint a further five Ministers of State, he will allocate responsibility for legislation relating to children in Irish society and the social and economic services for children in the State to one of these Ministers.
The Departments to which the new Ministers of State will be assigned, and their functions, will be indicated to the Dáil in due course.