asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism the sum of money that was given by his Department as grant-in-aid to the National Board for Science and Technology in 1982 and 1983; the other incomes that board have had for the years 1982 and 1983; the amounts and to whom programme expenditure was made by the NBST for 1982 and 1983; and the amount of money expended by the board for (a) directorate and services, (b) establishment and (c) personnel, for the years 1982 and 1983.
Written Answers. - National Board for Science and Technology.
211.
The grant-in-aid to the National Board for Science and Technology (NBST) in 1982 was £3,017,300 and in 1983 was £3,418,500.
As regards the other detail sought by the Deputy, I refer him to the annual accounts of the NBST which are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. I will be presenting the 1982 accounts shortly. The 1983 accounts will not be presented for some time. The National Board for Science and Technology are a corporate body established by statute (the National Board for Science and Technology Act, 1977). Sections 16 and 18 of that Act indicate that the board are empowered to expend the grants made available to them by the Minister in such a manner and subject to such conditions as they think fit in the performance of their official functions.