Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important to note that Forfás had additional functions other than the policy function for which it is best known, all of which are being delegated to IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and other appropriate locations. To give an example, one of its function was to operate the Irish National Accreditation Board, which is now moving, as a unit, to the Health and Safety Authority. In other words, we are not seeing a splitting up of the core research capability of the organisation. Rather, the Bill simply provides for the relocation of some of the functions Forfás traditionally executed into suitable locations following its dissolution. Forfás staff are already working in these agencies on secondment, including 11 in the Health and Safety Authority, predominantly in the Irish National Accreditation Board unit. Approximately 50 have moved to the Department.