asked the Taoiseach the number of staff employed by each wholly State-Financed semi-State body under his aegis; and if these are employed in permanent posts or on contracts of definite or indefinite terms.
Written Answers. - Semi-State Bodies.
164.
There are 13 persons employed by An Chomhairle Ealaíon, ten of whom are in permanent posts. Two are engaged under Five-year contracts and one is a part-time cleaner.
There are nine persons employed by the Law Reform Commission. Four are engaged under contracts of definite terms, one under a contract for an indefinite period, and four are clerical staff, who are permanent civil servants.
165.
asked the Taoiseach if there are agencies under the aegis of his Department, other than semi-State bodies, which enjoy a degree of autonomy as to the appointment of staff outside normal civil service procedures, entering into contracts, the expenditure of moneys, freedom from ministerial and parliamentary scrutiny of their activities or any other financial matter which is greater than that enjoyed by sections within his own Department; and, if so, if he will give the name of the agency and the extent of its autonomy, the number of staff employed by it, the amount of money made available to it in 1978; and the authority for its establishment.
No.
166.
asked the Taoiseach if the annual report and accounts for 1975, 1976 and 1977 for all semi-State bodies under his aegis have by now been laid before the Oireachtas; and, if not, if he will give details of each case and the reasons.
The annual reports and accounts of An Chomhairle Ealaion for the years in question have been laid before the Oireachtas. The First Report (1977) of the Law Reform Commission, which covers the period from 20 October 1975, when the Commission was formally established, to the end of 1977 has been laid before the Oireachtas.
The Minister for Finance has responsibility for laying the accounts of the Law Reform Commission before the Oireachtas.
167.
asked the Taoiseach the action taken in respect of each semi-State body under his aegis on foot of the memorandum issued some time ago by the Department of Finance in relation to the shortcomings and disparities in the accounts of semi-State bodies and making recommendations for their improvement; if all relevant recommendations have been complied with; and, if not, if he will give details.
An Chomhairle Ealaion is the only semi-State body in respect of which I have a function in relation to accounts. A memorandum on the form and content of the accounts of State-sponsored bodies, which was issued by the Department of Finance in 1968, included the council among the bodies which did not show comparative figures for the previous year. The format of the council's accounts was changed in 1974, with the approval of the Minister for Finance, from a receipts and payments basis to an income and expenditure basis. Since 1975 the previous-year comparative figures are shown.