David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he is responsible for the performance of the functions of his Department in accordance with section 3 of the Public Service Management Act 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9701/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Under section 3 of the Public Service Management Act, 1997, a Minister having charge of a Department shall, in accordance with the Ministers and Secretaries Acts, 1924 to 1995, be responsible for the performance of functions that are assigned to the Department pursuant to any of those Acts. Accordingly, I am responsible for the performance of functions assigned to my Department pursuant to those Acts. Section 4(1) of the Public Service Management Act states "except as otherwise directed by the Government or provided by or under any other Act, the Secretary General of a Department or Head of a Scheduled Office, as the case may be, shall, subject to the determination of matters of policy by the Minister of the Government having charge of the Department or Scheduled Office or by the Government, have the authority, responsibility and accountability" for carrying out specified duties in respect of the Department or scheduled office. Among these duties are the following specified in section 4(1)(a): "Managing the Department or Scheduled Office, implementing Government policies appropriate to the Department or Scheduled Office, monitoring Government policies that affect the Department or Scheduled Office and delivering outputs as determined with the Minister of the Government having charge of the Department or Scheduled Office."