Departmental Agencies.

Thursday, 17 December 2009

Questions (330, 331)

Liz McManus

Question:

330 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made in relation to the relocation of the Central Fisheries Board to Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim; the amount paid in rent for the CFB in Swords, County Dublin, offices including additional accommodation such as the warehouse and laboratory premises; when is it intended that the relocation will take place; the plans for the CFB premises in Glasnevin, Dublin 11; the reason for it being vacated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48151/09]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan)

The Decentralisation Programme as originally announced in December 2003, included the proposal to relocate the Headquarters of the Central Fisheries Board to Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim. As announced by the Minister for Finance in his statement of 14th October 2008, the Government has deferred decisions on the timing of the implementation of elements of the Decentralisation Programme including that of the Central Fisheries Board, pending a review in 2011.

Issues relating to the possible purchase of a site in Carrick-on-Shannon for the proposed decentralisation and to the cost of rental of offices generally for the Board are matters for the Office of Public Works (OPW). However I understand from liaison between officials in my Department and OPW that, while a number of site and property options have been investigated, no interest in any property has yet been acquired by OPW for the proposed decentralisation in Carrick-on-Shannon. Issues in relation to the use of the Board's former premises in Glasnevin, is also a matter for OPW. Rental payments on property are an operational matter for the Central Fisheries Board.

Liz McManus

Question:

331 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the annual accounts for 2008 of the Central Fisheries Board have been published and laid before Dáil Éireann; if not, the reason for the delay; the timeframe for publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48152/09]

View answer

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Conor Lenihan)

As outlined to the House in response to question No. 394 on 10 November 2009 and question No. 94 on 25 November 2009, under Section 14 (1) of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1999, the Central Fisheries Board is obliged to submit draft annual accounts to the Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG) no later than three months after the end of each accounting period year. The Board is then obliged to submit to the Department as soon as may be but not later than one month after an audit by the C&AG a copy of its annual accounts, together with his report. The present position is that the C&AG is expected to complete his audit of the 2008 annual accounts shortly. Upon receipt of the audited accounts and report I will lay copies of both before each House of the Oireachtas in accordance with Section 14 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1999.