Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 451: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of staff who work for the reception and immigration agency; and the recruitment process which was used for such staff. [14474/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I presume that the Deputy is referring to the Reception and Integration Agency. The number of staff working in the agency at 30 April 2005 is 59.5. The staff of the agency are recruited through the normal channels of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Public Appointments Service. In addition, in recognition of its wide-ranging remit, the agency also has a number of staff seconded to it from other Departments and agencies to assist it in fulfilling its mandate. The arrangements for these secondments are a matter for the agency, the parent Departments of the staff concerned and the personnel division of my Department.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 452: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the person to whom the Reception and Integration Agency reports; if it publishes an annual report; if the agency has a management board; if so, the person by whom it was appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14475/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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On 28 March 2000, the Government approved the establishment of the Reception and Integration Agency under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It replaced the directorate for asylum support services and incorporated the refugee agency, which previously operated under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Reception and Integration Agency is headed up at assistant secretary level and does not have a management board. The agency, in keeping with its current status as a division within the Department, contributes to the overall departmental annual report rather than publishing its own.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 453: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the funding allocated to the Reception and Integration Agency for 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004; and that estimated for 2005. [14477/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The information required by the Deputy regarding funding allocated to the Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, for the years 2001-05 inclusive, is set out in the table below.

The administrative and staffing costs of the RIA are funded from subhead D1 of the Department's Vote, which covers a number of different asylum and immigration service divisions. Prior to 2002, the Department of the Environment and Local Government made payments to proprietors for the provision of accommodation and ancillary services. Prior to 2002, RIA pay expenditure was not accounted for separately from the other areas of asylum and immigration. Figures for 2005 are estimated.