Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 July 2014
404. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of agencies or State bodies under the aegis of her Department that have been abolished since 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32234/14]
View answer405. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of new agencies or State bodies that have been established under the aegis of her Department since 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32249/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 404 and 405 together.
I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question 419 of 13 May 2014.
As set out in that reply, the functions of Culture Ireland were merged fully into my Department during 2013 and the Board was replaced with an Expert Committee whose members provide their time on a pro bono basis. In addition, the term of office of the Placenames Commission expired in October 2012 and was replaced by an Expert Committee which also operates on a pro bono basis.
Furthermore, a formal Framework for Co-operation and Improved Services between the National Gallery of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Crawford Art Gallery was developed and endorsed by Government. Arising from that, the three Galleries signed a formal Service Level Agreement outlining a number of specific measures to share a number of services across the three Institutions. Legislation has been prepared to give effect to these changes and to reduce the number on boards, enshrine pro bono service and also gender equality on each board.
In December 2013, a new Human Resources Shared Services Unit was established in my Department to provide HR support to the National Museum of Ireland. Work is continuing between the National Museum of Ireland, the National Library of Ireland and the National Archives of Ireland to improve co-operation between these institutions and to progress shared services. Legislation to formally enact these changes and changes to board structure is being progressed.
I am satisfied that this programme of change has made a significant contribution to achieving the savings targets set out in the Public Service Reform Plan, while at the same time enhancing the operations of the bodies concerned.
No agencies or State bodies funded from my Department's Vote group have been established since 2011. For completeness, however, the Deputy may wish to note that responsibility for the Censorship of Publications Board and the Censorship of Publications Appeals Board transferred from the Department of Justice and Equality to my Department in June 2013.
