asked the Minister for the Environment (a) whether it has yet been decided as to which body will be responsible for the £360,000 cost of the 16 hydrometric data collection staff being transferred to the local authorities (b) the £313,000 cost of rent of premises and (c) the cost of the transfer of functions and staff to the IPA and IIRS consequent upon the abolition of An Foras Forbartha.
Written Answers. - Transfer of An Foras Forbartha Staff.
201.
My Department are at present consulting city and county managers about the arrangements for apportionment of the cost of the staff involved in the collection of hydrometric data. The cost of other transfers will depend on a number of factors which have not yet been finally determined.
An Foras Forbartha continue, for the present, to meet the rent of premises but arrangements are being made to reduce the costs involved, as far as possible.
202.
asked the Minister for the Environment the position regarding those staff of An Foras Forbartha who have not been transferred to his Department or some other public body and who have not accepted voluntary redundancy.
To date applications to avail of the voluntary redundancy/early retirement terms have been received by the board of An Foras Forbartha from 35 staff of whom ten have already retired. The terms are, of course, still on offer.
In addition to the arrangements already announced for the transfer of Foras Forbartha staff to various bodies, further arrangements for the redeployment of staff to various public sector bodies are being actively pursued.