Vol. 376 No. 9
asked the Minister for the Environment the discussions he now proposes to have with the staff of An Foras Forbartha following the announcement of the Government to replace the functions of An Foras Forbartha; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
176.
asked the Minister for the Environment the saving which will be affected in 1988 as a result of the new proposals for the replacement of An Foras Forbartha; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
177.
asked the Minister for the Environment if the surplus staff in An Foras Forbartha who will not be required in the new arrangements as announced to replace An Foras Forbartha have accepted voluntary redundancy terms; and, if so, if he will make a statement on the matter.
178.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will indicate the number of commercial overseas consultancy contracts which are currently being operated by An Foras Forbartha; if he will outline the arrangements that have been made to complete these contracts following the decision of the Government to abolish An Foras Forbartha and replace it with an Environment Research Unit in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
179.
asked the Minister for the Environment if it is intended that the Environment Research Unit proposed by the Government as a replacement for An Foras Forbartha will attempt to engage in overseas consultancies; if so, if such activity will be in line with paragraph 31 of the Programme for National Recovery; if he will outline the manner in which it is proposed to develop the overseas consultancy potential of the Environment Research Unit; the number of staff who would be required to engage in such work; the proposed marketing budget required to sustain it in the initial stages, the activity of that work; the basis upon which contracts would be entered into between the Environment Research Unit and prospective customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
180.
asked the Minister for the Environment the local authorities which will have responsibility for the various water research laboratories previously under the charge and management of An Foras Forbartha following the Government's announced proposals to replace An Foras Forbartha; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
181.
asked the Minister for the Environment if the proposed Environment Research Unit in his Department will publish separately documentation on environmental matters in a manner similar to that previously carried out by An Foras Forbartha; if such documentation will be readily available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
182.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the way in which local authorities can apply to the Environment Research Unit proposed as the replacement for An Foras Forbartha for consultancy advice; if he will outline the way in which such advice would be charged to local authorities; if it will be independent of ministerial sanction or departmental approval before being conveyed to the local authority in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
183.
asked the Minister for the Environment when it is proposed to vacate St. Martin's House currently occupied by An Foras Forbartha; if he will outline the logistical arrangements that have been made for the transfer of all the staff, equipment and library currently housed in St. Martin's House, indicating the alternative locations, if any, to which they will be transferred; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
184.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he is prepared to provide for the transfer of the extensive library assembled by An Foras Forbartha currently housed in St. Martin's House to the Department of Architecture and Town Planning in University College, Dublin at Roebuck, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
185.
asked the Minister for the Environment the way in which he proposes to provide for access for the public to environmental information and data previously provided by An Foras Forbartha in the new Environment Research Unit proposed for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 to 185, inclusive, together.
On 8 December last, I made available to the Library copies of a statement issued on that day in relation provision of essential research and related services provided until now by An Foras Forbartha. The Deputy will appreciate that, pending Government decisions on the overall framework, it was not possible to settle detailed implementation arrangements in consultation with the various interests involved. Accordingly, the precise information requested by the Deputy is not available in all cases at this stage. Following is the information requested, in so far as it is available, on matters not dealt with in the statement referred to:
(1) The board of AFF will be arranging full consultation with the unions concerned in relation to the implementation of the proposed arrangements.
(2) It is envisaged that appropriate arrangements will be made for the publication and dissemination to interests concerned, and to the public, of data and other information arising from the work of the new environmental research unit. The manner in which, the extent to which and the conditions under which services will be provided for local authorities will be settled in consultation with the local authorities in due course.
(3) The existing technical library of An Foras Forbartha will be assigned to the new unit and no proposals have been developed for the transfer of the library, equipment or staff to a new location.
(4) Detailed arrangements for the transfer of the responsibility for regional laboratories to the local authorities concerned will be completed as soon as possible following further consultations with the authorities concerned.
(5) While staff of the new unit will be available for overseas consultancy work, on a recoupment basis and subject to the constraints which normally apply in releasing staff for such work, it is proposed that general responsibility for overseas contracts in the entire local government/environment area will be undertaken by the Institute of Public Administration, on the basis of detailed arrangements to be worked out with that body. An Foras Forbartha is involved at present in two overseas contracts which will be completed this year.
(6) The total cost to the Exchequer of operating the new environmental research unit is not expected to exceed £1,750 million in 1988 as against a grant of £3,894 million to An Foras Forbatha in 1987.
(7) The standard terms for voluntary redundancy/early retirement, as determined by the Government, have been offered to all An Foras Forbartha employees and, to date, a total of 12 staff have either accepted the terms or expressed interest in them.
