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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Performance Indicators.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

721 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the key performance indicators being used by his Department; the performance in respect of these for the past five years; and if a commentary is published on these performance indicators linking them to objectives and activities. [20319/02]

The Deputy will be aware that my Department was established with its present range of functions in June of this year. A statement of strategy for my Department, which will include key performance indicators, is being drafted at present and I anticipate that it will be published in the new year. Future annual reports will include updates in relation to progress in achieving strategic objectives. The annual reports of the former Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, which have been laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas, include progress reports in relation to that Department's strategic objectives.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

722 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the key performance indicators of the agencies which his Department funds; the performance in respect of these for the past five years; and if these agencies publish a commentary on these performance indicators linking them to objectives and activities. [20334/02]

The information required by the Deputy in respect of the agencies which receive funding from my Department is as follows.

The Western Development Commission's annual reports published to date reflect its progress in achieving its key objectives by outlining its activities and achievements. These reports have been laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. Key performance indicators for the commission's western investment fund are reported bi-annually to the BMW operational programme and the S & E operational programme monitoring committee. Details of the fund's operation are published in annual reports. As I announced in July, I have initiated a review of the purpose, functional area and operation of the commission.

National Advisory Committee on Drugs: The performance indicators of this committee, which was established in July 2000, are set out in the national drugs strategy 2001-08. The NACD reports regularly – usually bi-annually – to an interdepartmental committee on progress made in implementing the work programme and in meeting the requirements set for it under the national drugs strategy. The committee is due to publish its first annual report next year.

National Drugs Strategy Team: Under the national drugs strategy 2001-08, terms of reference and a series of actions were set for the NDST which it has to report on regularly. The NDST is obliged to produce an annual report, the first of which is due next year. In addition, the Department will publish a report on the nature and extent of the drug problem and on progress being made in achieving the objectives set out in the strategy early in the New Year.

Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board: This board has begun work on preparing a plan for disbursement of surplus dormant funds, which will include the objectives, strategies and priorities for the scheme. The plan is expected to be completed in the spring of 2003. The board is required by legislation to review and if necessary update its plan not later than three years after its establishment, i.e. 5 June 2005 and at least once in every three years thereafter. The relevant Act also requires that the board present an annual report to me as Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on the performance of its functions during the previous financial year and that the reports be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. The first such report is required not later than 30 June 2004.

Area Development Management Limited has a strategic plan 2001-03 and publishes an annual report. The performance indicators for the local development social inclusion programme have been agreed by the monitoring committee of the BMW and S & E regional assemblies. Commentary on performance is reported twice yearly to the monitoring committees of both regional assemblies and is also published in the ADM annual report. The performance indicators for the PEACE 2 programme are agreed by the monitoring committee of that programme which is man aged by the special EU programmes body. Commentary on performance is reported to the monitoring committee and is also published in the ADM annual report.
Údarás na Gaeltachta's strategic plans 1996-2000 and 2002 place considerable emphasis on creating growth from the Gaeltacht's current industrial base and other indigenous resources. Údarás na Gaeltachta exceeded the target of 600 new industrial jobs per annum as set down in the Gaeltacht sub-programme of the Operational Programme for Industry. A target of 5,600 new jobs has been set under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, averaging 800 jobs per year. Annual reports of Údarás na Gaeltachta for the years 1996-2000 have been laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas and the annual report for 2001 will be laid shortly.
The Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests: A strategy statement is incorporated in the commissioners' annual report which sets out the key factors relating to achieving the strategic objectives and is submitted to Government. The commissioners' first strategy statement was published in the 1998 annual report and covered the years 1998-2000. The most recently published annual report is that for 1999, which was published in 2002. The current performance indicators for the office of the commissioners are outlined in their current strategy statement 2001-03 and await publication. Apart from the annual report, the commissioners do not publish a commentary on the key performance indicators of the office.
An Foras Teanga is one of the cross-Border implementation bodies, which was established on 2 December 1999 when the British-Irish Agreement Act, 1999, came into effect. It is comprised of two separate agencies – Foras na Gaeilge and Tha Boord o Ulster Scotch. Foras na Gaeilge is charged with increasing the use of Irish in everyday life throughout the island of Ireland, while the responsibility of Tha Boord o Ulster Scotch is the promotion of greater awareness and use of Ullans and of Ulster Scots cultural issues, both within Northern Ireland and throughout the island. The evaluation of the corporate development plans of both of these agencies for the period 2002-04 is nearing completion. Progress on the performance indicators identified in these plans will be incorporated in the annual report and accounts of the body, which will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Waterways Ireland: Waterways Ireland is also one of the cross-Border implementation bodies established under the British-Irish Agreement Act. The Waterways Ireland corporate and business plan has been approved by the North-South Ministerial Council and has been submitted to the parent Departments, both North and South. The plan outlines in a strategic manner the aims and objectives of the body, the targets and measures for attaining those objectives and the critical success factors underpinning the strategy. Commentary on the progress in relation to the implementation of this corporate plan will be incorporated in all future annual reports and accounts produced by the body, which will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge is a non-statutory body whose purpose is to support both writers and publishers in providing material in the Irish language which will increase the interest of the general public in Irish language reading. It publishes annual reports and accounts of its activities which are deposited in the Oireachtas Library.
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