Vol. 387 No. 7
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if, in the event of the meteorological service increasing its existing revenues by adopting a more commercial pricing and delivery policy, his Department will make additional funds available to enable the service to develop further its commercial approach; and if so, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a similar arrangement is at present operating elsewhere in the Civil Service.
54.
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that decentralisation of the meteorological service will require some upgrading of staff in the areas concerned
55.
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he has raised with the Department of Finance the matter of making more funds available to enable the meteorological service to develop further its commercial approach; and, if so, the outcome.
56.
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he intends decentralising the delivery of the meteorological service to the public to counteract the current centralisation programme by the service.
57.
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he has any plans for increasing the commercialisation of the meteorological service.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 to 57, inclusive together.
The meteorological service has been the subject of a comprehensive review in order to identify, inter alia, the scope for reducing costs and increasing revenue. The organisational changes necessary to implement the findings of the review are concerned mainly with the creation of improved structures and a general rationalisation of operations, including some staff upgrading, with a view to achieving a more efficient and cost effective service. These changes cannot appropriately be described as involving either a centralisation or a decentralisation of the service.
I am satisfied that there is scope in some areas for increasing the revenue earned by the meteorological service and this is being actively pursued. There is no question of providing additional Exchequer funds for the service.
