Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a North South Co-operation unit in his Department; the number of staff working in the North South Co-operation unit; the number of staff who have worked in the North South Co-operation unit in each year since 2007. [46616/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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My Department's role in relation to North/South co-operation arises mainly in relation to the operation of the North-South Ministerial Council established under the Good Friday Agreement. With regard to the North-South Ministerial Council (Environment Sector), work is co-ordinated by a unit within the Environment Division of the Department. The unit is headed by a Principal Officer who also has responsibilities in relation to international environment matters and sustainable development. The main work of the unit is carried out by one Assistant Principal Officer, one Higher Executive Officer and one Clerical Officer. There is also input as required at Assistant Secretary level. Other areas within the Environment Division provide input on specific issues as they arise. These arrangements have been in place since the institutions under the Good Friday Agreement were established.

Under the re-organisation of departmental responsibilities in May 2011, my Department assumed responsibility for aspects of rural development which come within the remit of the North South Ministerial Council (Agriculture). Work in this regard is co-ordinated within the Department’s Community Division by a unit headed by a Principal Officer who also has wider responsibilities in relation to rural development. The main work of the unit is co-ordinated by one Higher Executive Officer with input from one Assistant Principal Officer. The staff of this unit also attend regular meetings of the Steering Committee on Cross Border Rural Development.

Also, within the Community Division, work is undertaken in relation to my Department's responsibilities as an Accountable Department under the PEACE III and INTERREG IVA Programmes. The main work of this unit, which is headed by a Principal Officer who also has wider responsibilities in relation to local development, is carried out by one Higher Executive Officer, with input as required by an Assistant Principal Officer.