Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 6 May 1998

Vol. 490 No. 5

Written Answers. - Departmental Appointments.

Nora Owen

Ceist:

226 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of committees, expert groups, outside agencies and study groups he has set up since July 1997; the topic each group is examining; the number of members in each group; when each group is due to report; and the costs, if any, associated with each group. [10693/98]

The information requested is set out in the following table.

Name

Topic

Number of Members

Due to Report

Costs

Financial Management Systems Steering Group

To oversee the implementation of fundamental change to the accounting systems in place in local authorities. There are also a number of short- term sub-groups in place examining particular issues associated with the project.

Six members of the Steering Group

Ongoing

Nil

Needs and Resources Study

Arising out of the new financial resources being made available to local government an expert group has been assigned the task of developing a practical model of the non-capital financial needs and available resources in Galway County Council (and the other local authorities in Galway county), to assist in the distribution exercise. It is intended that this model will be used by other authorities so as to build up to an overall picture of needs and resources.

Three full-time members of the group, 11 members of the Steering Committee

November 1998

£100,000 approx. (estimate)

Forum for the Construction Industry

To oversee detailed implementation of 86 Recommendations contained in Report of the Strategic Review Committee on the Construction Industry - “Building our Future Together” (June 1997)

17 (including Chairman)

Annually, first report due in December 1998

Nil (to date)

Constituency Commission

To report on Dáil and European constituencies

5

Reported in March 1998

£918 to date

Electoral Area Boundary Committee

To make recommendations on the divisions of local authorities (other than in Dublin) into local electoral areas and the number of members to be assigned to each such area

4

1 July 1998

£2,396 to date

Dublin Electoral Area Boundary Committee

To make recommendations on the divisions of the Dublin local authorities into local electoral areas and the number of members to be assigned to each such area

4

1 July 1998

£785 to date

Local Appointments Commission Review Group

To review the role and operation of the Local Appointments Commission in local government recruitment

11

End of June 1998

Nil

Liaison Group on Waste Management

To facilitate exchange of information concerning the development and implementation of waste management legislation, and developments generally in relation to waste management at local, national and EU level.

Currently eight, but varies

Work is ongoing and open-ended

Nil

Public Library Policy Project

To carry out a review of the public library service

10

September 1998

No direct costs, except travel and subsistence expenses

Biosolids Studies Steering Group

The re-use and recycling of Biosolids (treated sludge) and non hazardous sludges

7

On phased basis to be completed by August 1998

Nil

National Water Study - Technical Assessment Group

Assessment of initial proposals for carrying out a study entailing the collection and analysis of data on water supply systems nationally serving more than 5,000 persons

3

Reported in March 1998

Nil

National Rural Water Monitoring Committee

To monitor and advise on all aspects of the development and implementation of policy on rural water supply, group water schemes in particular

13

Annually

No costs incurred as yet (group established on 5 May 1998)

Urban Renewal Expert Advisory Panel

In relation to the urban renewal scheme to come into effect on 1 August 1998-

10

(1) Reported in November 1997. (2) Expected prior to 1 August 1998

£15,000 (approximately) to date

(1) To advise the Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal in relation to the criteria to be provided to local authorities to assist them in identifying priority areas for the purposes of the scheme, and the guidelines in relation to the content of Integrated Area Plans to be prepared for the priority areas

(2) To assess completed Integrated Area Plans and to make recommendations to the Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal in relation to the proposals for designation which are contained in those plans

Working Group on the Commemora- tion of the Centenary of Irish Local Government

To draw up proposals to celebrate the centenary of the Irish local government system in 1998 and 1999, and to make recommendations to the Minister in relation to a national commemoration programme

8

Reported early 1998

£354.26 (travel and subsistence only)

Barr
Roinn