Vol. 533 No. 6
322 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will list every State agency, company, board, group, committee, commission, inquiry or authority which was set up under the aegis of his Department; and if he will give a brief outline of the aims of each such body. [9925/01]
The information requested by the Deputy in respect of bodies set up during my term of office is set out in the following table:
|
Name of agency, company, board, group, committee, commission, inquiry or authority under the aegis of the Department |
Objective |
|
Inter-departmental Working Group on Rural Transport |
To audit rural passenger service provision. |
|
Task Force on Integration of Local Government and Local Development Systems |
To integrate local government and local development systems and to bring about the more coherent delivery of services at local level. |
|
National Rural Water Monitoring Committee |
To advise the Minister on the development of rural water policy and to monitor implementation of the rural water programme by local authorities. |
|
Fire Services Cross Border Working Group |
To progress and further develop cross-Border co-operation and joint working on fire services, in the context of Intergovernmental conferences, provided for under the Good Friday agreement |
|
Working Group on Efficiency in Non-National Roads |
To oversee implementation of recommendations of efficiency review of county council operations in the non-national road's area. |
|
Planning Group on rental assistance |
To formulate proposals for a local authority based system of rental accommodation-assistance |
|
Comhar – National Sustainable Development Partnership |
To increase partnership and consultation in the area of environmental policy and also acts as the National Sustainable Development Council for Ireland. |
|
National Anti-Litter Forum |
To review current anti-litter actions and to submit a report to the Minister with a programme of measures to enhance and extend those measures. |
|
Review Group on Rating Law |
To carry out a review of rating legislation and introduce a comprehensive and consolidated modern rating code |
|
Steering Group on Development of Equalisation Model |
To develop a fair and equitable model for the distribution of general purpose Local Government Fund grants on the basis of needs and resources |
|
Local Authority Group on EURO Readiness |
To oversee implementation of euro changeover in local authorities |
|
Steering Group on Assessment of Financial Demands on Local Authorities |
To oversee consultancy study on the future financial demands on local authorities |
|
Working Group on Local Government legislation relating to financing |
To review legislation on local government financing |
|
Sub-Committee on Financial Management System in Local Authorities |
To set out policy in relation to the implementation of the new Financial Management System in local authorities |
|
Working Group on Reporting Arrangements of Local Authorities |
To review existing reporting procedures/arrangements in relation to local authority finances in the context of the new Financial Management System in local authorities |
|
Working Group on Fixed Assets |
To determine policy in relation to fixed asset accounting in the context of the new Financial Management System in local authorities |
|
General Accounting/Chart of Accounts Group |
To determine accounting policy issues arising in the context of the new Financial Management System in local authorities |
|
Steering Group on Costing of Local Authority Services |
To oversee consultancy study in relation to the costing of local authority services |
|
Steering Group on Financial Management System Training |
To establish the training needs for the new Financial Management System in local authorities |
|
Constituency Commission – established on 30 September 1997 and reported on 26 March 1998 |
To review Dáil and European constituencies. |
|
Electoral Area Boundary Committee – Established on 11 February 1998 and reported on 30 June 1998 |
To review local electoral areas (other than in Dublin) |
|
Name of agency, company, board, group, committee, commission, inquiry or authority under the aegis of the Department |
Objective |
|
Dublin Electoral Area Boundary Committee – Established on 11 February 1998 and reported on 30 June 1998. |
To review local electoral areas in Dublin |
|
Informal Working Group on Miscellaneous Electoral Matters – Established on 20 November 1998 and stood down on 20 April 1999 |
To consider matters relevant to the conduct of the European and local elections in 1999 |
|
Electronic Voting and Counting project: Steering Group (established April 2000) and Monitoring Group (established January 2001) |
To oversee the introduction of electronic voting and vote counting. |
|
Referendum Commission for Treaty of Amsterdam (established 2 March 1998) |
To explain the subject matter of the referendum and to set out the arguments in favour and against the proposal the subject matter of the referendum |
|
Referendum Commission for British-Irish Agreement (established 22 April 1998) |
To explain the subject matter of the referendum and to set out the arguments in favour and against the proposal the subject matter of the referendum |
|
Referendum Commission for Local Government Recognition (established 4 May 1999) |
To explain the subject matter of the referendum and to set out the arguments in favour and against the proposal the subject matter of the referendum |
|
Cross Departmental Team on Housing |
To secure an appropriate expansion of housing supply in line with the National Development Plan, 2000-2006, and the further Government measures contained in Action on Housing. Reports to Cabinet Committee on Housing |
|
Working Group on Voluntary and Co-operative Housing |
To facilitate development and increase output from the voluntary and co-operative housing sector |
|
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee (NTACC) |
The terms of reference etc. of the NTACC are as set out in Sections 19 and 20 of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998 |
|
Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme Monitoring Committee |
To manage, with the Department of the Environment and Local Government, the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme |
|
School Libraries Working Group |
To examine aspects of schools library service |
|
Steering Group on Implementation of “Branching Out – a New Public Library Service” |
To oversee implementation of “Branching Out” recommendations |
|
Working Group on Parapets and analogous building elements |
To advise Minister on dangers associated with parapets |
|
Irish Water Safety Association |
Promotion of public awareness of water safety and of measures related to the prevention of accidents in water, and the provision of instruction in water safety, rescue and recovery drills and such other services related to water safety. (Articles 4 and 5 of The Irish Water Safety Association (Establishment) Order, 1999 S.I. No. 361 of 1999) |
|
Environmental Network of Government Departments |
To provide a forum for enhanced cross-departmental awareness of the environmental agenda. |
|
Expert panel on Urban Renewal |
To assess proposals put forward by local authorities under the urban renewal scheme 1998 and to make recommendations to the Minister concerning the areas to be designated. |
|
Expert panel on Town Renewal |
To assess proposals put forward by local authorities under the town renewal scheme 1999 and to make recommendations to the Minister concerning the areas to be designated. |
|
Expert panel on Living Over the Shop (LOTS) |
To assess proposals put forward by the five county boroughs/corporations under the living over the shop scheme 2000 and to make recommendations to the Minister concerning the areas to be designated. |
|
Name of agency, company, board, group, committee, commission, inquiry or authority under the aegis of the Department |
Objective |
|
Cross Departmental Team on Homelessness |
To formulate a strategy and develop a comprehensive Government response to homelessness, incorporating all matters relating to homelessness including accommodation, health and welfare, education and preventative measures |
|
Expert Advisory Group on Spatial Planning |
To review and advise on the overall direction and content of the National Spatial Strategy. The group is comprised of national and international experts on spatial planning and regional development. |
|
Interdepartmental Steering Committee on Spatial Planning |
To lead and oversee the preparation of the National Spatial Strategy. Twelve Departments are represented on the committee. |
|
Dublin Transportation Office Advisory Committee |
To provide advice and guidance to the Steering Committee of the DTO and to provide a forum for consultation on Dublin transport issues. See Dublin Transportation Office (Establishment) Order (Amendment) Order 1999, S.I. No. 337 of 1999 |
|
Housing Forum |
To monitor developments in relation to the supply and affordability of housing and implementation of the housing objectives in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. The forum will also provide a mechanism to involve the social partners in developing policy responses to issues identified in the Programme and the national development plan. |
|
The Commission on the Private Rented Residential Sector (reported July 2000) |
The Commissions terms of reference was as follows:“To examine the working of the landlord and tenant relationship in respect of residential tenancies in the private rented sector and to make such recommendations, including changes to the law, as the Commission considers proper, equitable and feasible with a view to:•Improving the security of tenure of tenants in the occupation of their dwellings;•Maintaining a fair and reasonable balance between the respective rights and obligations of landlords and existing and future tenants;Increasing investment in, and the supply of, residential accommodation for renting, including the removal of any identified constraints to the development of the sector, and to report to the Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal by 1 June, 2000” |
|
NAPS (National Anti-Poverty Strategy) Working Group on Housing and Accommodation |
To develop housing and accommodation targets for submission to Government as part of the Review of the National Anti-Poverty Strategy (NAPS) in implementation of the commitment contained in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, 2000. |
|
The Housing Unit Consultative Committee |
To provide policy advice to the housing unit's work programme. |
|
Steering Committee for Consultancy on the Preparation of Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Development Plans |
Preparation of draft guidelines |
|
Steering Committee for Consultancy on the Preparation of Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Retail Planning |
Preparation of draft guidelines |
|
Steering Committee for Consultancy on the Preparation of Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Residential Density |
Preparation of draft guidelines |
|
Advisory Committee on the Preparation for Planning Authorities on Childcare Facilities |
Preparation of draft guidelines |
|
Expert Panel on Pollution of Groundwaters by Nitrates |
To review water quality monitoring data and make recommendations as to the identification of groundwaters affected by pollution by nitrates from agricultural sources |
|
North/South Working Group of Officials on Water Quality |
To consider certain matters in relation to–•water quality strategies in relation to the Erne and Foyle catchments, and•implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive. |
|
Name of agency, company, board, group, committee, commission, inquiry or authority under the aegis of the Department |
Objective |
|
North/South Technical Advisory Group on Water Quality |
To support the North/South Working Group of Officials on Water Quality in ensuring technical co-ordination and harmonisation of the approaches being developed / adopted North and South in relation to implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive, especially in relation to shared waters. |
|
EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) Implementation Group |
To oversee and co-ordinate at Department level the implementation of the WFD |
|
EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) Co-ordinating Group |
To co-ordinate and support the work of the various public authorities who have functions under the WFD. The group will help to identify the administrative and technical obligations that arise, and to devise and oversee a co-ordinated works programme for their delivery within the timeframe of the directive. |
|
Consultation Group on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading(To be reconvened in preparation for the next instalment of international climate change negotiations in July) |
To examine and advise the Minister on the options for greenhouse gas emissions trading, both domestically and in the context of developing international and EU requirements, and to offer advice on the position on international trading as required. |
|
Cross-Departmental Climate Change Team(A number of Sub-groups being established reporting to the Climate Team•Economic Analysis Sub-Group•Cross Departmental Agency Support Unit•Inventory Sub-GroupOther sub-groups as required) |
To ensure successful implementation of the measures set out in the National Climate Change Strategy |
|
Forum For the Construction Industry |
To oversee and advise on the detailed implementation of the 86 recommendations of the Strategic Review Committee on the Construction Industry (SRC) as set out in the SRC report “Building Our Future Together”– April 1997 |
