Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Apr 2001

Vol. 533 No. 6

Written Answers. - Departmental Bodies.

Enda Kenny

Question:

347 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the name, remit, budget and responsibility, including its headquarters and staff, of any organisation or agency under the aegis of her Department involved in any type of development in the BMW region; the monitoring process involved by her Department in respect of such development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9803/01]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera):

In addition to those bodies under the aegis of my Department engaged in the promotion of culture and heritage on a countrywide basis the bodies described below engage in activities which relate directly to the economic development of the BMW region: the remit of Údarás na Gaeltachta is to develop the economy of the Gaeltacht so as to facilitate the preservation and extension of the Irish language as the principal medium of communication in the Gaeltacht. As the parent Department of an tÚdarás, the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands has a general monitoring role in relation to the activities of that body. An tÚdarás publishes an annual report and its accounts are subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

H.Q.:	Na Forbacha, County Galway.
Staff:	115.
Budget (2001):	£31.51 million.

Waterways Ireland: A North-South Implementation Body for inland waterways was established on 2 December 1999 on foot of the British-Irish Agreement and the supplementary Implementation Bodies Agreement signed in March 1999. It has the functions of management, maintenance, development and restoration of certain inland navigable waterways systems throughout the island, principally for recreational purposes.

H.Q.:	Enniskillen.
Staff:	287.
Budget (2001):	£25.09 million.

Waterways Ireland will produce annually a corporate plan and an annual report and its accounts will be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General.