Written Answers. - Departmental Bodies.
Michael D. Higgins
Question:
148
Mr. M. Higgins
asked the
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs
the number of ad hoc advisory groups in relation to policy or implementation established in his Department; the number of statutory committees; the number of other permanent groups; the number of interdepartmental groups; the cost of each in a full year; and the cost of individual advisers in the same period.
[8595/99]
Because of the range of the Department's activities there is at any one time a range of working groups and committees involved in aspects of the Department's business. Many of these are set up on an ad hoc basis to address particular issues and details are not available as to the number and nature of all of these.
A number of groups and committees have been set up by the Department involving representatives of other agencies and bodies.
These include a working group on women's access to labour market opportunities; a small business users' forum; a business users' panel; a steering committee for the White Paper on supporting voluntary activity; an interdepartmental committee on the national anti-poverty strategy; a community development programme advisory committee; a community development programme technical group; a national advisory committee on the money advice and budgeting service; a disability consultative forum; an interdepartmental committee on an integrated social services system; a supplementary welfare allowance scheme – four working groups with the health boards on aspects of the scheme; and programme evaluation working groups, the number of which varies from time to time.
In general the only additional costs which arise in connection with these groups are the incidental costs associated with the organisation of meetings and servicing the work of the groups.
There is one special adviser to the Minister who has been appointed from the private sector. He is paid at the maximum point of the Principal Officer scale, currently £47,713 per annum exclusive of pension contribution.
There is no programme manager which means a cost saving to the Exchequer in respect of salary of about £46,000, quite apart from the attendant ancillary costs.
Nor is there a five person policy unit in existence in my Department, something which was present prior to my coming into office in June 1997, at a salary cost saving of about £95,000, quite apart from the attendant ancillary costs.
There are three statutory agencies reporting to the Department, namely the National Social Service Board, the Pensions Board and the Combat Poverty Agency. There is a range of sub-committees and working groups operating under the aegis of each of these.
The National Social Service Board was established in 1984 and comprises 20 members. The board is responsible for the development and provision of information and advice on social services for citizens throughout the country. The NSSB publishes an annual report each year, the most recent being published in June 1998 and covering the 1997 calendar year.
There are currently three working groups and committees operating under its aegis.
The Pensions Board was set up under the Pensions Act, 1990. It is a representative body comprising a chairperson and 14 ordinary members. The membership of the board comprises representatives nominated by trade unions, employers, Government Departments, the pensions industry, member trustees and professional groups involved with occupational pension schemes.
The role of the board is to monitor and supervise the provisions of the Pensions Act, 1990, and pension developments generally; and to advise the Minister on all matters relating to the functions assigned to the board and on matters relating to pensions generally. There are five committees operating under its aegis.
The Pensions Board published its report on the national pensions policy Initiative – entitled "Securing Retirement Income"– in May last. On publication, I circulated a copy of the report to all Members of the House.
Following the publication of the report, I established a number of working groups to progress a number of the board's recommendations, namely, simplification of the tax regime for pensions, chaired by the Department of Finance; pre-funding the future costs of social welfare pensions, chaired by the Department of Finance; introduction of personal retirement savings accounts to encourage increase in supplementary pension coverage, chaired by Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs.
The above groups comprise representatives of the relevant Government Departments and the Pensions Board.
On foot of the report I also asked the Pensions Board to bring forward proposals in relation to increasing pensions awareness and another working group was set up to progress this under the chairmanship of the Pensions Board.
The main functions of the Combat Poverty Agency are to advise the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs on all aspects of economic and social planning in relation to poverty; to initiate and evaluate measures aimed at overcoming poverty; and to promote greater public understanding of the nature, causes and extent of poverty and the measures necessary to overcome poverty. The agency was established in September 1986 and there are currently 16 members on the board. The agency also establishes subcommittees from time to time. The agency publishes a large volume of reports each year including an annual report.
There are currently three sub-committees operating under its aegis.
