Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 November 2014
1073. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to detail the number of quangos set up since 2011 in his Department; the number of members of same; the cost and expense incurred to date, including details of the briefs they cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42514/14]
View answerThe information sought is contained in the following table:
|
Name |
Mission/Legislative Basis |
Number of Board members
|
Budget 2013, 2014
|
|
Local Government Management Agency |
Established in 2012 under the Local Government Management Agency (Establishment) Orders 2012 and 2013 following the merger of the Local Government Computer Services Board and the Local Government Management Services Board. Its role is to be a centre of excellence in the provision of management services, human resource and industrial relations support and advice to local authorities in Ireland. |
11 |
The LGMA is primarily funded through local authorities . It does not receive a standing Exchequer subvention towards its administrative costs. A detailed breakdown of the annual income and expenditure for the LGMA in 2013 is contained in its Annual Report and Accounts, which will be available in the Oireachtas Library shortly. |
|
Irish Water |
The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann (BGE) under the Companies Acts. The Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 provided for the transfer, in part, of water services functions from 34 water services authorities to Irish Water with effect from 1 January 2014. |
9 |
Some €440m is being provided to Irish Water from the Local Government Fund in 2014. Irish Water has received funding from central funds in 2014 (outside of DECLG vote) in the form of €185m by way of a capital contribution which was made in August 2014 and a further €54m which will be advanced shortly by way of a convertible loan. Otherwise, Irish Water is funded through borrowings. |
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
The Pyrite Resolution Board was established on an administrative basis in February 2013 and placed on a statutory footing in January 2014 following the enactment of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013. The role of the Board is to oversee and direct the delivery of a cost effective pyrite remediation scheme for homeowners whose homes are affected by significant damage due to pyritic heave and where there are no other practicable options for redress. The Board will work with the Housing Agency to deliver the scheme.
|
4 |
The Government approved initial funding of €10 million for the roll-out of a pyrite remediation scheme in 2014 with an additional sum of €10 million to be made available to fund the operation of the scheme in 2015. The post-2015 funding requirement will be dealt with at that stage having regard to developments over the interim period.
|
|
NOAC |
The National Oversight and Audit Commission for Local Government was established on 1 July 2014 to provide an independent scrutiny of local government performance in fulfilling national, regional and local mandates, including financial performance. The establishment of the NOAC is part of the reform process legislated for by the Local Government Reform Act 2014 and is a very significant development in public accountability. The need for enhanced scrutiny of local government performance was recognised in the Action Programme for Local Government, published by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in October 2012. |
12 |
2013 – Nil 2014 – €78,000 |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
The principal activity of the Agency is to assist local authorities and the Department on policy implementation and to undertake such regulatory or other services as are requested by the Department. This includes the provision of services to support the delivery and management of social housing. The Agency also carries out specific projects and evaluations, studies information on housing matters and provides policy advice. The Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency (Housing Agency) was formally established on 1 August 2012 under the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency, (Establishment ) Order 2012 (SI 264 of 2012), but operated on an administrative basis from mid-2010, following a Government decision to rationalise the Affordable Homes Partnership, the Centre for Housing Research and the National Building Agency Ltd |
8 |
Budget for 2013 €1.7m
Budget for 2014 €1.6m
In accordance with the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency (Establishment) Order 2012, the Agency’s first accounting year will be from date of establishment to 31 December, 2013. The accounts are currently being audited and will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as they have been finalised. |
Information on the projected expenditure for Exchequer funded agencies under the aegis of my Department is published in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2014. The Revised Estimates publication 2014 includes a summary table of Exchequer expenditure of non-commercial state Agencies showing the provisional outturn for 2013 and the estimated expenditure for 2014.
