Written Answers. - Ministerial Functions.
Pat the Cope Gallagher
Question:
99
Mr. P. Gallagher (Donegal South West)
asked the
Minister for the Environment
the functions delegated to each Minister of State at his Department; and the date on which the functions were delegated in each case.
[5821/95]
I have arranged the assignment of responsibilities to the Ministers of State in my Department, as follows: Deputy Bernard Allen: general oversight of the system of local government; input to the development of proposals for policy and legislation in relation to local government reform; input to the programme for the devolution of functions to local authorities; oversight of implementation of the local government reform programme; development of proposals with a view to signature and ratification of the European Charter of Local Self-Government; input to the study of local government finance and to the subsequent development of proposals for change; general oversight of the performance of urban road authorities in the implementation of urban traffic measures outside the DTI area, including the traffic management elements of the Cork land use transportation study; review of regulations, bylaws and temporary rules under the road traffic code in relation to urban traffic management.
Deputy Liz McManus: the plan for social housing, including promotion and monitoring of the various schemes; local authority housing programme, including determination of new "starts" and annual financial allocations for each authority, management and maintenance, monitoring of progress, promotional work with authorities, rent matters, tenant purchase scheme, etc; remedial works scheme and the bathrooms sub-programme, including determination of financial allocations, approval of new schemes, monitoring progress; accommodation for travelling people, including determination of annual financial allocations, monitoring of progress, promotional work, co-ordination with the Department of Equality and Law Reform; accommodation for the homeless, including improving and monitoring local authority response; housing needs assessments, including the ESRI study; various housing grants and subsidy schemes, including new house grants, voluntary housing, essential repairs, disabled person's and mortgage allowance, and house purchase and improvement loans schemes; private rented accommodation, including tenants' charter; National Building Agency: work in relation to planning, design and construction of local authority housing remedial works, social housing, urban renewal etc; promotion of new scheme of general urban renewal and development of proposals for any modifications of new schemes — functions in relation to the Custom House Docks and Temple Bar are retained by me for the present; implementation of the scheme of grant support for urban and village improvement and conservation measures under the urban and village renewal sub-programme of the local urban and rural development operational programme, including determination of annual financial allocations; the preparation of proposals for any new or amending legislation or new schemes in relation to any of the foregoing; liaison with the construction industry and other organisations in relation to matters arising in connection with the housing and urban renewal programmes.
In the case of Deputy McManus, an order was made by the Government on 4 January 1995 formally delegating to her specified powers and duties of the Minister for the Environment under relevant legislation, S.I. No. 3 of 1995. The need for a similar order in the case of Deputy Allen, will be further considered.
