Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 576: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the budgetary allocation for each of the public bodies, executive agencies, advisory bodies and taskforces operating under his Department. [27788/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I wish to refer the Deputy to the Revised Book of Estimates for 2006, specifically Votes 19 to 23, which set out in some detail the allocations to the principal bodies and agencies operating under my Department's aegis. In the case of certain of the smaller entities, a specific subhead is not provided for and in many of these cases any expenditure arising will be subsumed within the Department's overall budget.

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 577: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform 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. [27802/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I can inform the Deputy that the following State Bodies under the aegis of my Department are affected by the recent increase in non-executive Chairpersons' fees:

Private Security Authority

National Disability Authority

Equality Authority

Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime

Internet Advisory Board

Land Registry and Registry of Deeds

Legal Aid Board

Garda Síochána Complaints Board

Parole Board

The Deputy may also wish to note that, although the Children's Act Monitoring Committee is one of the bodies listed in the recent Department of Finance circular on this subject, the Committee is currently chaired by an Assistant Garda Commissioner, who does not receive additional remuneration for this role. Similarly, the Courts Service, although listed as one of the bodies affected, is chaired by the Chief Justice, who also does not receive additional remuneration for this role.

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 578: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of taskforces which have been created by his Department and their function, size, membership, reporting mechanism and period of existence since 1997. [27822/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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One entity established under my Department's aegis since 1997 was described as a taskforce — the Youth Justice Taskforce.

The remit of the taskforce was to: examine the scope for rationalising and restructuring the State's youth justice services; carry out an analytical review and scoping exercise, nationally and internationally; consult with relevant Departments, Government Agencies and Non-governmental bodies; examine developments at national and international level with a focus on youth crime and appropriate interventions; make recommendations for any reforms for the delivery of a seamless service in the youth justice area.

In October 2004 the Government endorsed a joint initiative by myself and the Minister for Children to set up an internal project team to review the Irish youth justice system which was to report by Summer 2005. The team was headed by Ms. Sylda Langford, now Director General of the Office of the Minister for Children, and comprised a small number of officials from my Department. The taskforce completed its work and submitted its report in 2005. Following examination of its recommendations by the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion and a subsequent submission to the Government, the report was published in January 2006.

The Deputy may also wish to refer to previous Parliamentary Questions regarding working groups and other such groups, for example, Parliamentary Question Number 305 of 17 May, 2005.