Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 January 2010
228 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of bodies and agencies operated under the remit of his Department; the cost of each on a yearly basis; the name and number that have been abolished in the past four years; the name and number that have been amalgamated; the name of those to be abolished or amalgamated in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2745/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no state agencies operating under the responsibility of my Department.
There are currently three bodies, which operate under the aegis of my Department: the Development Education Advisory Committee; the Government Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (previously known as Díon); and the Fulbright Commission (The Board of the Ireland — United States Commission for Educational Exchange).
The Development Education Advisory Committee (DEAC) was appointed by the then Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2003 following the recommendations of the Ireland Aid Review Committee. Its purpose is to advise the Minister, Minister of State and Irish Aid on policy regarding development education. As an advisory body, it has no independent budget or overheads; the administration of DEAC is serviced by my Department from the Department's overall budget.
The Government Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (previously known as Díon) was set up in 1984 to advise the Government on the welfare of the Irish community in Britain. The Committee makes recommendations on Emigrant Services funding to voluntary organisations that work with vulnerable Irish people resident in Britain. As an advisory body, the Committee has no independent administrative budget or overheads; the administration of the Committee is provided by our Embassy in London and financed within the Department’s overall budget.
The Ireland — United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission) finances study, research, teaching and other educational activities between Ireland and the United States of America. The Fulbright Commission operates on a statutory basis and enjoys autonomy of management and administration in accordance with the Educational Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America) Act, 1991. The annual Grant-in-Aid figure for 2009 was €254,000, the same amount which has been paid annually since 2001.
A fourth body, the Advisory Board for Irish Aid (ABIA), ceased to operate on October 31st 2008 when the Board's term ended. The Board was established in August 2002 to provide general oversight and advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of State for Overseas Development on the strategic direction of the Government's programme of assistance to developing countries. The work of the Board was funded by an annual budget allocation under Vote 29 (International Co-operation) of the Department of Foreign Affairs. In 2008, the Board's total cost was €738,047. Of this €614,374 related to research programmes.
There are no plans to abolish or amalgamate the three bodies referred to in 2010.
