asked the Minister for Finance the Departments which have been involved directly or indirectly in the preparation of integrated programmes for submission via Dublin to Brussels for EC structural assistance in any or all of the seven regions; in respect of such participation (1) the number of officials involved, (2) the position and rank which they have in his Department, (3) the amount of time involved in such work and (4) the number of meetings which they have attended; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - EC Structural Funds Assistance.
80.
Twelve Departments concerned with the application of EC Structural Fund assistance in this country — Agriculture and Food, Communications, Education, Energy, Environment, Finance, Gaeltacht, Industry and Commerce, Labour, Marine, Taoiseach and Tourism and Transport — assisted as required by their agencies, are directly involved in the ongoing preparation of plans and sub-national programmes for purposes of EC Structural Funds. Other Government Departments, offices and agencies are consulted as required.
The position in relation to participation by departmental officials is as follows:
(1) The Chairpersons and secretaries of the seven working groups set up to prepare the sub-national operational programmes have been provided by my Department, in some cases using seconded officers. Other Departments and their agencies contribute staff resources as required.
(2) Two of the chairpersons are of assistant secretary rank; the other five are at principal level. The secretaries are at assistant principal level. The permanent staff of my Department involved are drawn from various parts of the Department.
(3) Eight of the fourteen Department of Finance officials concerned are full time on this work. The other six are part-time. There is no procedure in place in Departments for measuring the time input of staff involved on a part-time basis.
(4) In addition to 13 meetings overall of the seven working groups and the inaugural meetings of the seven advisory groups, a considerable number of other meetings involving those preparing plans and programmes — comprising internal departmental meetings, a general meeting involving officials of all Departments and meetings with EC officials — have taken place.