Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport the areas or activities in respect of her portfolio for which she has direct responsibility to the Dáil; the areas of responsibilities for which have been devolved to others with specific reference including funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44437/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I have not statutorily devolved any areas of my responsibility as Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport. In other words, I remain directly responsible to Dáil Éireann in respect of my portfolio in the tourism, culture and sport sectors. I have non-statutorily devolved responsibility for a range of matters to my colleague, Mr. Martin Mansergh, T.D., Minister of State with special responsibility for the Arts. In particular, Minister of State Mansergh has been delegated responsibility for: - North/South arts and culture co-operative projects; - assisting with the renovation and construction programme at the National Cultural Institutions; - assisting with maximising the use of publicly owned facilities and venues under the aegis of the Commissioners of Public Works to support the promotion of arts and cultural events and also in maximising the synergies between this public and heritage infrastructure and arts, culture and tourism policy objectives; - providing support generally, as required, to me on arts and culture, tourism and sport matters; and - representing me, as required, at events related to the responsibilities of my Department.

For the sake of clarity, I should state that I am responsible for overall policy in relation to the tourism, culture and sport sectors. In respect of the agencies under the aegis of my Department, day-to-day operational matters and issues of administration and spending within prescribed budgets are a matter for the agencies themselves as prescribed in the relevant Acts governing their establishment.