Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received an annual report for each of the past three years from the chairmen of all State bodies under the auspices of his Department; if the pay of chief executives and employees of such bodies is fully in accordance with Government policy; if he will list any such bodies where this requirement under the code of practice for the governance of State bodies has not been met or no report has been received; if he will provide full details of such issues in such reports and if these reports will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46710/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The agencies operating under my Department's aegis are in the main non-commercial, undertaking quasi-judicial/ regulatory, advisory and developmental functions.

In some instances, due to the form and function of the body, there is no requirement for an annual report or accounts to be provided to my Department or the Government. Otherwise, preparation of its annual report is a matter for the body concerned. My Department, following the presentation of a report, submits it to Government and/or arranges for the laying of the report before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

I have received an Annual Report from all bodies under my aegis required to submit such a report for 2007 and 2008 and have received a majority of reports for 2009. The 2009 Reports from the Environmental Protection Agency the Fire Services Council, the Limerick Regeneration Agencies and the National Building Agency are currently in preparation.

In accordance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, the Chairperson of each State body is required to furnish to the Minister, in conjunction with their annual report and accounts, confirmation that the Code of Practice has been adopted and is being compiled with; such confirmation has been received in reports to date. However, while the pay of the Chief Executive of the DDDA for the first half of 2009 did not comply with Government policy, this matter has been resolved and the Authority is now in compliance. In relation to DDDA employees, a small number are paid amounts in excess of the requirements of Government policy due to contract terms previously agreed; this matter will be pursued with the DDDA.