Departmental Bodies.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2005

Tuesday, 17 May 2005

Ceisteanna (304)

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

305 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of working groups which have been set up by his Department since 2000; the name and expenditure of each working group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16269/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table.

Working Group Name	Year Established	Expenditure
Central Presidency Planning Group	2003	Nil
Legal Advisory Group on Defamation	2002	€1,108.00
Expert Group on the Codification of Criminal Law	2003	€64,717.53
Coroners’ Rules Committee	2001	€44,011.71
Auctioneering Review Group	2004	€13,663.98
Justice and Equality Sector Performance Verification Group (JESPVG)	2003	€13,989.47*
Quality Assurance Group (QAG)	2001	€12,820.49*
Legal Costs Working Group	2004	Travel and subsistence expenses as well as research costs incurred. Overall figure not readily available.
Group to examine matters arising from the ‘Report raising concerns of the activity of the Garda Síochána Officers during 1998’ prepared by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland for the Minister for foreign affairs.	2002	€267,147.41
High Level Group on Traveller Issues	2003	Nil
Equality Proofing Working Group	2000	€93,000.00
Steering Group for the National Anti-Racism Awareness Programme (Know Racism 2001-2003)	2001	€4,750,000.00
Steering Group to oversee the consultative process in the development of the National Action Plan Against Racism	2002	Nil
Steering Group for the National Action Plan Against Racism	2005	Budget of €1million per annum for the life of the plan 2005-2008.
Cross Departmental Group on Immigration	2001	Nil
Working Group on Unaccompanied Minors	2000	Nil
Interdepartmental Group to develop the effectiveness and accessibility of data in relation to work permit immigrants and asylum seekers.	2002	Nil
Interdepartmental Group on Asylum and Immigration Issues.	2003	Nil
Interim Advisory Board on Reception and Integration Agency	2001	€16,247.94
Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme Appraisal Committee	2000	Nil
Working Group on School age Childcare of National Co-ordinating Childcare Committee	2001	€5,079.00
Childminding Subgroup of National Co-ordinating Childcare Committee	2002	Nil
Advisory Subgroup (for children with special requirements and minority ethnic groups, including Travellers)	2001	€19,905.00
Certifying Bodies Subgroup of National Co-ordinating Childcare Committee	2000	Nil
IBEC/ICTU Childcare Working Group (established under Sustaining Progress being facilitated by the Childcare Directorate)	2003	Nil
Expert Consultation Team on Disability Legislation	2002	€11,911.00
Review Group to oversee plans for the implementation of the Garda Síochána Bill	2005	Nil
Working Group on the Review and Improvement of the Maternity Protection Legislation.	2000	€8,625.33
Working Group on the Review of the Parental Leave Act 1998	2001	€129,480.45
Garda Síochána Physical Competence Test Review Group	2000	Not readily quantifiable
Garda Síochána Bill Implementation Advisory Group (Hayes Group)	2005	Nil
Garda Síochána Bill Implementation Group (internal Departmental group)	2005	Nil
Prison Based Drug Treatment National Steering Group	2000	Travel and subsistence costs. Figure not readily available.
Eastern Region Subgroup of the National Steering Group on Prison-based Drug Treatment Services	2002	Travel and subsistence costs. Figure not readily available.
Committee on Special Observations Cells and Close Supervision Cells	2004	Nil
The Irish Prison Service Steering Group on Prevention of Self-harm and Death in the Prisoner Population	2005	Travel and subsistence costs. Figure not readily available.
Speed Cameras Group	2003	Nil
Crime Statistics Group	2003	€2,000.00 approx.
High Level Group on Collection of Fines	2001	€2,000.00 approx.

*Mileage costs are not readily available in the time allowed.

Where a ‘Nil' expenditure has been indicated above, some minor routine expenditure may have been incurred by the Department, for example, for light refreshments at meetings, the details of which are not readily available. The above figures also include expenditure in respect of projects initiated by a working group where appropriate, for example the steering group for the national anti-racism awareness programme.