Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 308: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the cost of the proposed changes to his Department; if there are logistical changes necessary such as staff changes, relocation of his Department or sections of his Department; when it is anticipated that all of the necessary changes will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13767/10]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 309: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if legislation is necessary to ensure the transfer of any section or agency of his Department as result of recent changes; if funding of the various agencies will be affected; if so, if a mechanism is being prepared or in place to ensure that no delays take place in relation to such funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13768/10]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the number and name of agencies now under his remit; the number and name of agencies previously under the remit of his Department that have being reallocated to other Departments due to recent changes; the change in policy of sections of his Department and the Minister of State responsible for each of the new policy sections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13779/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 308 to 310, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy is aware, as part of the restructuring of Departments and agencies announced by the Taoiseach in Dáil Éireann on 23 March last to ensure greater coherence and produce more efficient delivery, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs will become the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs and will incorporate responsibility for social inclusion policy and family policy from the Department of Social and Family Affairs and for equality, disability, integration and human rights from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

The changes in Departmental functions announced by the Taoiseach will have an effect on the Estimates of the Departments involved, including my Department. These changes will involve transferring the relevant programme expenditure from one Department to another. All such transfers of funds will be carried out strictly on an Exchequer-neutral basis. Some staff, and related administrative costs, may also be transferred between Departments, again on an Exchequer-neutral basis.

On the question of legislation, in most cases transfers of Departmental functions are carried out by Government Order under powers contained in section 6(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1939, while in some cases amending legislation may be needed. This aspect of the changes announced by the Taoiseach is still being examined in my Department and in the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, and Social and Family Affairs. The issue of orders delegating functions to Ministers of State would arise subsequent to that process.

The Deputy will appreciate, therefore, that at present it is not possible to provide him with the detailed information that he has requested in relation to staff changes, the relocation of sections of my Department, the assignment/functions of agencies, the anticipated costs involved and other associated matters. However, I can confirm that I have directed officials within my Department to ensure that any costs arising in this context be kept at a minimum and will be met from within existing resources.