Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Finance the assignments of responsibility which have been made under section 9 of the Public Service Management Act 1997 for the performance of his functions by officers of his Department, indicating in respect of each function or class of function whether the assignment has been to named officers or to a grade or grades of officer and whether any of the requirements listed in section 9(1)([i]a[/i]) to ([i]f[/i]) of the Act have been included in the assignment; if information relating to such assignments of responsibility is published by his Department; if he has satisfied himself with the workings of section 9 within his Department. [8141/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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There is a framework in place in my Department for the assignment of functions under the Public Service Management Act 1997 covering all individuals by name down to and including the principal officer grade and a number of individuals at assistant principal level. These assignments are updated as appropriate and were last done on 1 September 2004 — a copy of the latter document has been forwarded to the Deputy for his information. To date none of the assignments for this Department, which are made under section 4(1) of the Public Service Management Act 1997, has made specific reference to subsections (a) to (f) of section 9 of the Act.

In addition to assignments of specific areas of work to named individuals, the framework also includes a generic statement of responsibilities for the grades of Secretary General, public service management and development, Second Secretary General, assistant secretary and principal officer. All framework documents to date have been published internally and are available upon request to members of the public.

The assignments included in the framework are supported by a formal management structure and a business planning system. This business planning system is based on the Department's statement of strategy and includes annual business plans for each assistant secretary and director area. These business plans are reviewed by the management advisory committee on a regular basis.

The daily business of the Department is overseen by the management advisory committee, supported by groups it has established at assistant secretary, principal and assistant principal level. Each of these groups has been given responsibility for specific issues as considered appropriate. Finally, the Department has an audit committee with an external chairperson.

I am satisfied with the way the framework of assignments has been operating in my Department.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Finance the arrangements in place within his Department relating to the delegation by him of his functions under Acts other than the Public Service Management Act 1997, indicating whether such delegations are express or implied, whether they are in general terms or confined to particular functions or the performance of functions in particular classes of cases, whether the delegation is to named officers or to officers of a particular grade or grades and whether the performance of functions of any particular class is reserved to him personally; if information relating to such delegations is published by his Department; if he has satisfied himself with the working of this system of administration in conjunction with the provisions of the Public Service Management Act 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8156/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The principal mechanism for the assignment of functions to civil servants is the Public Service Management Act 1997. There are a number of other legislative provisions which provide that particular matters may be delegated to officials; examples in my own Department include delegation of functions to officers in specified grades under section 4 of the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 to 2003, and, under sections 3 and 13 of the Civil Service Regulation Act 1956, nomination of certain post holders and grades as suspending authorities in cases of grave misconduct. In the normal course of public business, a number of functions are undertaken under implied delegation. Questions arising in relation to matters of implied delegation of functions are in the first instance for interpretation by the Department but ultimately are a matter for legal interpretation by the courts.

I am satisfied with the system of delegation in the Department, which is kept under review.