andMr. Quinn asked the Minister for Energy in relation to the establishment of the Department of Energy if he will indicate (i) the structure of the Department, (ii) the number of sections within the Department (iii) the total personnel employed, (iv) the number of expert staff with scientific or technological training, (v) the research facilities, if any, (vi) the numbers and qualifications of new staff engaged since its establishment and their position and form of tenure (vii) the relationship between the Department and (a) the ESB (b) the town gas industry (c) the oil companies and (d) the LPG/bottled gas industry.
Written Answers. - Department of Energy.
1.
The structure and general staffing arrangements appropriate for the new Department, at this initial stage of its operation, have been settled only within the past couple of days. Discussions have taken place with staff representatives and I will now be putting these decisions into effect.
The structure provides for three divisions, the Geological Survey Office, and the usual additional staff to handle personnel and ancillary services. One division will deal with energy supply and utilisation, including conservation; the second with petroleum and minerals exploration and development; and the third will be responsible for planning and finance. Each of these divisions will be under the control of an assistant secretary with appropriate supporting staff. The Geological Survey is headed by a director.
One hundred and seventy-four officers—including 84 serving in the GSO—have been transferred into the Department in conjunction with the transfer of specific blocks of work. The total staff complement under the new structure will depend on the extent to which provision will have to be made for typing, messenger and other support services which are currently shared with another Department.
At this present time 12 new appointments in senior administrative grades are proposed and arrangements for these appointments have been or are currently being made following normal procedures.
Apart from the GSO, in which almost all the staff are professional and technical officers, the new structure provides for 13 posts to be filled by people with various specified professional, scientific or technical qualifications or training. These will be primarily engaged on the exploration side and on planning. Certain of these posts are already filled under the transfer of staff and functions arrangements referred to. Some of the new appointments to be made will be to permanent posts and the remainder will be made on the basis most appropriate in each case—for example, by secondment or under limited-term contracts.
The Department has no research facilities under its direct control but, in pursuance of its general role, it will be taking up with the various scientific and research organisations and institutions, including the National Board for Science and Technology, the question of developing an overall, co-ordinated policy in the field of energy research.
As regards relationships with the various bodies and energy sectors referred to by the Deputies, these are in certain cases already prescribed by statute, such as for the ESB, Bord na Móna and Bord Gáis Éireann. In these and other cases the optimum working arrangements with my Department will be discussed and developed over a period of time. I have already arranged to meet the boards of all the State bodies under the aegis of my Department and I will be extending this process to ensure appropriate consultation with the non-State interests.