asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the title, function, date of establishment and budget of each non-commercial State-sponsored body under his aegis; and if the rate of increase in its budget has exceeded or been less than the rate of increase over the past five years of (a) his own Department and (b) Government expenditure generally; and, if so, by how much.
Written Answers. - Non-Commercial State Bodies.
448.
1. The Agency for Personal Service Overseas (APSO) is the only non-commercial State-sponsored body under the aegis of my Department. Its function is to promote and sponsor personal service by Irish people in developing countries. It was established on 28 March 1974. Its budget in 1982 is IR£1.2 million. The rate of increase in APSO's budget exceeded that of the vote for my Department in the following years: in 1977 by 71.37%, in 1978 by 20.78%, in 1979 by 17.91%, in 1981 by 41.50%. In 1980, the rate of increase in APSO's budget was 15.22% less than that in the vote for my Department. 3. The rate of increase in APSO's budget exceeded that of gross Government expenditure as follows: in 1977 by 68.21%, in 1978 by 14.87%, in 1979 by 11.32%, in 1981 by 29.57%. In 1980, the rate of increase in APSO's budget was 12.7% less than that in gross Government expenditure.