Written answers

Wednesday, 25 January 2006

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Departmental Staff

8:00 pm

Photo of Brian O'SheaBrian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason certain functions of his Department including maritime transport, maritime safety and the coast guard were transferred to the Department of Transport on 1 January 2006; the number of staff and positions being transferred to the Department of Transport; the impact of the changes on the Department's Estimates published in November 2005; the marine and fishery functions which remain with his Department; the effect same will have on the maritime sector as a whole; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2100/06]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The Government decision to transfer the maritime transport and maritime safety functions in their totality to the Department of Transport makes sound strategic and operational sense. These respective functions comprise interlinked policy areas and services which sit more appropriately within the overall transport framework. The assimilation of these functions into the broader transport policy framework is in the interests of integrated transport policy delivery, efficiency and effectiveness, and relevant stakeholders and sectors.

The transfer of the functions concerned to the Department of Transport involved the transfer of 148 whole-time equivalent staff to that Department with the relevant functions with effect from 1 January 2006. A quantum of staff from central, corporate areas of my Department is also due to transfer to the Department of Transport by way of corporate support resources for the functions which transferred.

The Abridged Estimates for 2006 for the Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Vote, as published in November 2005, made provision for maritime transport and maritime safety functions which transferred to the Department of Transport with effect from 1 January 2006. The Revised Estimates for 2006, which will be published in February, will reflect the transfer from the Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Vote to the Transport Vote of the financial provisions associated with the transferred functions. These provisions include funding in respect of the current and capital programmes for the Irish coast guard, maritime safety and marine regulation and seaports and the associated pay and administrative costs. Discussions involving the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the Department of Transport and the Department of Finance are proceeding with a view to agreement on the funding to transfer to the Transport Vote in the context of finalisation of the Revised Estimates.

The following fishery and marine-related functions remain within my Department — seafood policy and development; sea fisheries administration; seafood control; coastal zone management; engineering division; inland fisheries and marine leisure and research.

As the Deputy may be aware, these functions, with the exception of inland fisheries and marine leisure and research, are due to transfer to Clonakilty with my Department under the Government's decentralisation programme.

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