Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline all plans for the Diaspora Centre, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin; the stage they are at including origin of all funding; if any staff have been appointed at this stage; and the pay scale of same. [43179/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Government has no specific plans for a diaspora centre in Dun Laoghaire. However, a special working group established by Failte Ireland has considered the concept of a diaspora centre. It is proposed to tender for options in the coming months. The diaspora centre might not necessarily be a new building or museum. It could also be an on-line project or could be accommodated in an existing institute.

Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company is a commercial State port company. While my Department has oversight responsibility for the corporate governance of the port company, staffing and pay issues are an operational matter for the company, in which I have no function.

I have referred the question to Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company for direct reply to the Deputy. If you do not receive a response within ten working days, please contact my private office.

It should be noted that it is existing Government policy that port companies are commercial entities that are required to fund capital investment without recourse to the Exchequer