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Departmental Responsibilities.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2004

Tuesday, 7 December 2004

Questions (224, 225)

Martin Ferris

Question:

251 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the person to whom Coillte Teoranta is responsible for decisions made affecting its role as caretaker of State owned lands. [32426/04]

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Written answers

Coillte Teoranta reports to my Department on its corporate governance. With regard to lands, the company submits and agrees with the Department a programme of sales and acquisitions each year, in accordance with Section 14 of the 1988 Forestry Act.

Martin Ferris

Question:

252 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the persons to whom Teagasc is responsible regarding decisions which it makes in line with the budget it receives from her Department. [32427/04]

View answer

Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority, was established under the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act 1988. Its function under the Act is to provide research, training and advisory services for the agri-food sector. Teagasc is governed by an eleven member authority. The chairman and five ordinary members are appointed by the Minister and the remaining five members are appointed by the Minister following nominations from designated organisations: IFA, ICMSA, ICOS, Macra na Feirme and Teagasc unions. An annual Exchequer grant in aid is provided for the purpose of expenditure by Teagasc in the performance of its statutory functions. It is the responsibility of the Teagasc authority to allocate this funding in accordance with its priorities and to take whatever action it deems necessary to produce a balanced budget for the year.

The effective use by Teagasc of the public resources allocated to it is ensured by the fact that annual programme of activities proposed by Teagasc is subject to approval by the Minister and the Minister for Finance, that Teagasc is subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General, that Teagasc is required to submit its annual report and accounts to the Minister who lays them before each House of the Oireachtas, and that Teagasc is required in the conduct of its operations to adhere to the code of practice for the governance of State bodies. In accordance with this code, the chairperson of Teagasc is required to furnish to the Minister an annual report affirming that all appropriate procedures for financial reports, internal audit, procurement and asset disposal are being carried out and including a report on its system of internal financial controls. Under this code, Teagasc is also required to submit annual rolling five year business and financial plans encompassing strategy, planned investment and financial targets. A copy of the plan is sent to the Minister and the Minister for Finance.

Under the strategic management initiative, Teagasc prepares a statement of strategy which sets out the overall mission, mandate and high level goals and objectives of Teagasc and the broad strategies to be implemented. Teagasc's current statement of strategy covers the period 2003-05.

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