Vol. 461 No. 5
63 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Finance the date on which his Department and/or Government approval was granted for the setting up of a policy unit to assist the Minister for Social Welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3270/96]
In the context of a Government decision of 21 February 1995, I wrote to the Minister for Social Welfare on 18 July 1995 indicating that I accepted his proposal to create a research unit within his Department. This acceptance was given on the strict understanding that the unit would remain in existence only for as long as the social welfare portfolio is held by a party leader and would lapse on that ceasing to be the case.
