Vol. 561 No. 4
317 Mr. Grealish asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the discretion he will give to the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board to divert surplus financial resources devoted to permanent staff to the employment of temporary staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4386/03]
Under the Fisheries Acts, responsibility for the overall administration of human resources issues is a matter for the Central Fisheries Board and, in this instance, the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board.
The Abridged Estimates Volume for 2003 includes provision in my Department's vote for €17.083 million for all current and capital payments to the central and regional fisheries boards in 2003. The fisheries boards are preparing a profile of expenditure, which will ensure adherence to the 2003 allocation. The specific allocation of funding to the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board will be determined in the context of this profile.
The employment of contract staff in 2003 will be a matter for the board to determine when deciding their staffing complement for the year in the context of available funding and having regard to Department of Finance guidelines on recruitment to the public service generally.
