Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the current numbers and grades of staff employed in North-South co-operation units in his Department as established under the Good Friday Agreement; the numbers in each unit when first established and the year on year change for his Department. [16821/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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There are currently 3 staff working in the North South Co-operation Unit of my Department, including a Principal Officer, Assistant Principal Officer and Higher Executive Officer. The Principal Officer also has other areas of responsibility within my Department.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Taoiseach announced the establishment the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht in March 2011, which brings together functions from the former Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport, the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I am advised that arrangements were in place in each of these Departments to progress North South Co-operation matters. The Deputy will appreciate, however, that information is not readily available that would allow me to give a breakdown of staff that worked on these matters in the former Departments referred to.