andMr. Keating asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if he will state in accordance with the recommendations of the Public Services Organisation Review Group, whether his Department has yet been divided into an Aireacht and executive units with responsibility for policy formulation and implementation, respectively; if not, the reason; and if he intends to make such arrangements.
Written Answers. - Review Group's Recommendations.
691.
This Department was set up subsequent to the Government decisions regarding civil service restructuring and its structure was generally based on the aireacht/executive agencies concept. The functions of the Department were very substantially altered in the course of the last year and certain consequential aspects have still to be settled. Application of the Aireacht and executive units structure to the range of functions now administered by this Department will be reviewed as soon as circumstances permit.
692.
andMr. Keating asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if he will state in respect of commercial State bodies under his aegis, whether he has accepted recommendation number 11 of the Public Services Organisation Review Group (a) that the activities of the bodies should be broken down by sub-goals; (b) that where an activity is economic there should be a minimum of interference; and (c) that where a loss is involved, the position should be kept under review.
The functions at (a), (b) and (c) of the Deputies' question are taken into account in policy formulation and the working relationships between my Department and the State agencies under my aegis.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the functions of the Department were very substantially altered in the course of the last year and certain consequential aspects have still to be settled. Implementation on a formalised basis of the proposals referred to will be considered when circumstances permit.