Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 566: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of quangos, agencies and authorities that were established by his Department in each of the years from 1997 to January 2011; the number of staff employed by his Department in 1997; the number of staff employed by his Department in January 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22578/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The number of new agencies established in my Department since 1997 is one. The Civil Defence Board was established on 7 May 2003 following the enactment of the Civil Defence Act 2002. Prior to that date, Civil Defence had been a branch of the Department, and the relevant staff transferred to the Civil Defence Board following its establishment. The Deputy will be aware that the Government has approved a proposal to begin drafting legislation to transfer the functions of the Civil Defence Board back into the Department of Defence. This decision is in line with Government policy to bring the functions of many State agencies back into their parent Department. The proposed Bill will, if enacted, repeal the Civil Defence Act, 2002, dissolve the Civil Defence Board and transfer its functions, property, rights, liabilities and other responsibilities to the Department of Defence. The information requested by the Deputy on staffing levels in my Department, including Civil Defence, is as follows: