Phil Hogan
Question:750 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of committees that have been established since 1997; the total cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15660/03]
Written Answers. - Departmental Bodies.
The Deputy will be aware that the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was established in June 2002, with responsibility for a range of functions previously under the remit of five Government Departments. I have listed the costs associated with the various committees established since 1997 which have, or continue to, come under the aegis of my Department. The Deputy may also wish to refer to my replies to questions number 388 and 389 of 10 October from Deputy Allen and my reply to Question No. 436 of 8 April 2003 from Deputy Kenny in which I gave details of task forces, review groups and other similar bodies established since July 1997.
The report of An Coiste Comhairleach na nÓg, established in September 1999, was published in July 2001. Details of costs associated with this committee are being complied and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. The report of An Coimisiún faoin nGaeilge sa Ghaeltacht, established in April 2000 was published in May 2002. Costs associated with the work of An Coimisiún totalled €226,301. The report of the working group on employment creation in the Gaeltacht established in May 2002 was published in December 2002. Costs associated with the work of this working group were €11,483.
An Coiste Comhairleach an Aire i leith Thuarascáil Chomisiún na Gaeltachta was established in October 2002 to advise on the report of An Coimisiún faoin nGaeilge sa Ghaeltacht. Costs associated with an coiste to date are €5,473. No costs have arisen for my Department in respect of the work of the interdepartmental committee for the islands, the Gaeltacht and the Irish language or the Údarás na Gaeltachta evaluation committee. The work of both of these committees is ongoing. Expenditure to date in regard to the implementation and advisory group, established in July 2001 in the context of the White Paper on a Framework for Supporting Voluntary Activity and for Developing the Relationship between the State and the Community and Voluntary Sector, is €92,474.
The national advisory committee on drugs, NACD, was established in July 2000 to advise the Government in relation to the prevalence, prevention, treatment and consequences of problem drug use in Ireland. The main expense incurred by the NACD is in relation to the commissioning of research. Costs to date have totalled €1,619,817. In addition to the above, I wish to advise that responsibility for the community development support programmes' national advisory committee and community development technical group, both of which were established in 1994 transferred to my Department in June 2002. Costs associated with the national advisory committee since that date are €26,649 while no costs have arisen in relation to the technical group since that date.