Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the number of new State agencies, forums and task forces that have been established in 2012; the number of new employees there are as a result of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53698/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The following State Agencies were established in 2012:

Local Government Management Agency - merger of the Local Government Management Services Board, the Local Government Computer Services Board and residual functions of An Comhairle Leabharlanna; no new employees.

Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency – rationalised functions of the National Building Agency, the Affordable Homes Partnership and the Centre for Housing Research; no new employees.

The following Forums/Task Forces were established in 2012:

Waste Forum - provides a mechanism for its membership, drawn from a wide range of stakeholders, to discuss and consider waste management matters, including policy, practices and outcomes; no new employees.

Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas – has a defined remit and timeframe to investigate the future economic potential of rural Ireland. Its main output will be a report that aims to inform medium term economic development of rural areas for the period to 2025. It operates within existing resources, drawing upon shared services and facilities, including a secretariat provided by the partnering institutions, i.e. the Department, Teagasc and the Western Development Commission. The Commission hopes to recruit a small number of trainees under the Job Bridge programme to work in Teagasc; otherwise, no new employees.