Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 389: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of bodies and agencies under his aegis; and his proposals for the rationalisation of same. [8192/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Currently, the number of relevant bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group is 7. These are: An Coimisinéir Teanga;

Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests;

Dormant Accounts Board;

Údarás na Gaeltachta;

Western Development Commission;

Waterways Ireland; and

An Foras Teanga, comprising Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency.

With regard to rationalisation, the Government proposes to abolish the Dormant Accounts Board in 2010. Appropriate legislation is currently being prepared for this purpose.

The Charities Act 2009 provides for the dissolution of the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests. The Act further provides that the Office of the Commissioners will be replaced by a new Charities Regulatory Authority, which will take on the statutory functions of the Office of the Commissioners, as well as having broader statutory regulatory functions relating to charities operating in the jurisdiction. My Department is currently rolling out an implementation plan for the Act.

As Waterways Ireland and An Foras Teanga are North/South Bodies, established pursuant to the Good Friday Agreement, they are jointly overseen in conjunction with the NI administration. A review of all the North/South Implementation Bodies, as provided for in the St. Andrews Agreement, is currently underway.