Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 345: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the budgetary allocation for each of the public bodies, executive agencies, advisory bodies and task forces operating under his Department. [27795/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to the budgetary allocations for bodies and agencies under the aegis of the Department, this information can be found in the Department's published Estimates and the associated agency statements. With regard to the budgetary allocation for any task forces or similar groups established by my Department, the membership of such groups is normally drawn from relevant Departments, State Agencies and sectoral organisations and as such, no specific additional budgetary allocation is made as any expenses arising are covered under general subheads of the Department's vote.

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 346: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of positions in State bodies under the aegis of his Department which are affected by the increase in non-executive chairpersons' fees of State bodies recently sanctioned by the Government. [27809/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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A total of 12 chairpersons of state bodies under the aegis of my Department are affected at present by the increases referred to by the Deputy.

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 347: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of task forces which have been created by his Department and their function, size, membership, reporting mechanism and period of existence since 1997. [27815/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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A number of task forces and similar groups have been created in my Department since its establishment in 2002 and details in respect of the more important such groups are set out as follows.

1. Name of Task force: Working Group on the National Stadium Function:

To make a recommendation to the Government regarding the size, cost, design and specification of a National Stadium

Membership: It consisted of the Special Advisers to the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste, and representatives of the Office of Public Works and Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Ltd, under the Chairmanship of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.

Reporting Mechanism: The working group drafted a report for consideration by the Government in September 2002. In light of this report, the Government decided that it was not in the position to provide any Exchequer funding, in the medium term, for a National Stadium.

Period of Existence: Up to August 2002.

In addition to the above working group, there was another OPW and Department task force, which drafted a report evaluating sites as possible locations for a 65,000 to 80,000 seater Stadium. This was presented to the Working Group on the National Stadium in August 2002.

2. Name of Task force: Assessment Panel for Expressions of Interest in the National Stadium

Function: To evaluate expressions of interest from the private sector with regard to the National Stadium Project

Membership: The assessment panel included representatives from the Office of Public Works, Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Ltd., National Treasury Management Agency, Department of Finance including the Public Private Partnership Unit, the Attorney General's Office and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, supported by a technical sub-group.

Reporting Mechanism: The group provided advice to the Department.

Period of Existence: October-November 2002.

3. Name of Taskforce: Expenditure Review-Sports Facilities Steering Group.

Function: To complete an Expenditure Review that would assess the expenditure and approach to the provision of Sports facilities.

Membership:

Reporting Mechanism: The group held a number of meetings and produced an Expenditure Review which was sent to the Oireachtas and published on the Department's website.

Period of Existence: March 2003 to November 2003.

4. Name of Taskforce: Lansdowne Road Stadium Steering Group.

Function: To keep the Government aware of the development of the Lansdowne Road Stadium Redevelopment Project, and to keep in contact with any issues which might arise in the course of the delivery of the facility.

Membership: The Steering Group consists of representatives from the FAI, IRFU, OPW, Department of Finance, Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company Ltd and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.

Reporting Mechanism: The Steering Group meets on a regular basis and members provide the Secretary General with regular updates regarding the project.

Period of Existence: February 2004 to date.

5. Name of Taskforce: Sports Facilities Strategy Steering Group.

Function: To oversee the development of a strategy document that will outline a planned approach to the provision of Sports facilities.

Membership:

Reporting Mechanism: The group have held a number of meetings and agreed the priority areas of work to be completed before a report is produced. Their work is ongoing.

Period of Existence: June 2005 to date.

6. Name of Taskforce: Inter-Departmental Public Art Co-ordination Group.

Function: To publish a set of general national guidelines in relation to the Public Art: Per Cent for Art Scheme.

Membership: Group consisted of 14 members, representing various Government Departments and organisations.

Reporting mechanism and period: The group was established in August 2002 and the Guidelines were published in December 2004.

7. Name of Taskforce: Special Committee on the Traditional Arts.

Function: to advise the Arts Council on matters relating to the traditional arts.

Membership:

Reporting mechanism and period: The Committee was established in December 2003 and published its report entitled Towards a Policy for the Traditional Arts in September 2004.

8. Name of Taskforce: Tourism Policy Review Group.

Function: To review and report on tourism policy to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism.

Membership:

Reporting mechanism and period: January 2003-September 2003. Produced the Report of the Tourism Policy Review Group: New Horizons for Irish Tourism: An Agenda for Action.

9. Name of Taskforce: Tourism Action Plan Implementation Group.

Function: To review and report progress on the implementation of the New Horizons Report of the Tourism Policy Review Group.

Membership:

Reporting mechanism and period: January 2004-January 2006. Published three implementation reports.

First Progress Report of the Tourism Action Plan Implementation Group.

Second Progress Report of the Tourism Action Plan Implementation Group.

Third and Final Progress Report of the Tourism Action Plan Implementation Group.

10. Name of Taskforce: Tourism Strategy Implementation Group.

Function: To continue the work of reviewing and monitoring implementation of the New Horizons Report of the Tourism Policy Review Group.

Membership:

Reporting mechanism and period: May 2006-to date.

11. Name of Taskforce: Beckett Centenary Council.

Function: Oversee Beckett Centenary Festival.

Membership:

Reporting mechanism and period: Novembr 2005-April 2006.

12. Name of Taskforce: Beckett Centenary Festival Committee.

Function: Implement Beckett Centenary Festival.

Members:

Reporting mechanism and period: November 2005-May 2006.