Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the budgets of the boards, bodies, authorities, agencies and quangos under the remit of his Department since 1997 to date in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30103/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Advisory Board for Irish Aid, which replaced the Irish Aid Advisory Committee (IAAC), was established in August 2002 to provide general oversight and advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of State for Overseas Development on the strategic direction of the Government's programme of assistance to developing countries. The principal expenditure of the Advisory Board relates to commissioning research and its budgets were as follows:

The Development Education Advisory Committee (DEAC) was appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2003 following the recommendations of the Ireland Aid Review Committee. Its purpose is to advise the Minister, Minister of State and Irish Aid on policy regarding development education. As an advisory body, the administration of DEAC is serviced by the Department of Foreign Affairs and funded within its overall budget.

The Díon Advisory Committee advises the Government and makes recommendations on Emigrant Services funding to voluntary organisations that work with vulnerable Irish people resident in Britain. In February 2003, the funding allocation was transferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The administration of the Committee is provided by our Embassy in London and financed within the Department's overall budget.

The Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission) finances study, research, teaching and other educational activities between Ireland and the United States of America. The Fulbright Commission enjoys autonomy of management and administration in accordance with the Educational Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America) Act, 1991. From 1997 until 2000 the Grant-in-Aid given to the Commission was £100,000 annually. In 2001 the Grant-in-Aid figure was increased to €254,000 per annum and has remained at this level since then.

The Hunger Task Force was established in September 2007, in line with the recommendation of the White Paper on Overseas Development Assistance, to identify the contributions that Ireland can make to international efforts to reduce hunger. The Task Force has been appointed for a period of six months, after which it will present a final report to the Minister of State with responsibility for Overseas Development. Its administration is serviced by the Department of Foreign Affairs and it has no distinct budget.