Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 April 2010
15 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the responsibilities his Department now holds in the areas of equality, human rights and integration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14179/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra20 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will list the functions for which Ministers of State attached to his Department will be responsible; if these will be formally delegated powers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14275/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra24 Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the cost implications of restructuring his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14184/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra33 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if legislation is necessary to ensure the transfer of any section or agency of his Department; as a result of recent changes; if funding of the various agencies will be affected, and if so, if a mechanism is being prepared or in place to ensure that no delays take place in relation to such funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14258/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra34 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the cost of the rebranding that will be required as a result of the decision to change the number of his Department, including the cost of redesigning and reprinting stationary and other printed material, website redesign and changes in signage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14276/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra42 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the additional responsibilities his Department will take on as a result of the reconfiguration of Government Departments announced by An Taoiseach on 23 March 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14251/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra45 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number and name of agencies now under the remit of his Department; the way in which responsibility for each agency is broken down; the number and name of agencies previously under the remit of the Department that have been reallocated to other Departments due to recent changes; the change in policy of sections of his Department and the Minister or Ministers of State responsible for each of the new policy sections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14259/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 20, 24, 33, 34, 42 and 45 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, as part of the restructuring of Departments and agencies announced by the Taoiseach in Dáil Éireann on 23 March last to ensure greater coherence and produce more efficient delivery, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs will become the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs and will incorporate responsibility for social inclusion policy and family policy from the Department of Social and Family Affairs and for equality, disability, integration and human rights from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
The changes in Departmental functions announced by the Taoiseach will have an effect on the Estimates of the Departments involved, including my Department. These changes will involve transferring the relevant programme expenditure from one Department to another. All such transfers of funds will be carried out strictly on an Exchequer-neutral basis. Some staff, and related administrative costs, may also be transferred between Departments, again on an Exchequer-neutral basis.
On the question of legislation, transfers of Departmental functions are carried out by Government Order under powers contained in section 6(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1939, while in some cases primary legislation may be needed. This aspect of the changes announced by the Taoiseach is still being examined in my Department and in the Departments of Finance, Justice, Equality and Law Reform, and Social and Family Affairs.
In relation to the Deputies' queries regarding the Minister of State appointed to my Department, Ms Mary White, TD, has been appointed Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, and the Department of Education and Science, with special responsibility for Equality and Human Rights, and Integration. Once the transfer of functions process is concluded, it is my intention to delegate the functions in respect of Equality, Human Rights and Integration to Minister of State White and to delegate functions transferred to my Department in relation to Disability to Mr John Moloney, TD, who will, of course, continue as Minister of State with special responsibility for Disability Issues and Mental Health at the Department of Health and Children, as well as the renamed Departments of Education and Skills, and Enterprise, Trade and Innovation.
The Deputies will appreciate that for the moment it is not possible to provide details in relation to changes in policy areas of my Department, the assignment/functions of agencies, any costs involved, funding implications for the various agencies transferring and other associated matters. I can assure the Deputies that I have directed the officials in my Department to ensure that any costs arising in this context are kept at a minimum. They will, of course, be met from within existing resources.
