Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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137. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of quangos operating under the aegis of his Department; the total number of directors sitting on their boards; the aggregate fees incurred by the State in paying the remuneration of directors of these quangos; the number of quangos that have been created since the formation of the Government; the number that have been disbanded over the period; the projected cost to the taxpayer of the establishment and operation of these new quangos; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49950/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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My Departmental remit includes complex policy areas and oversight of State regulation and provision of key strategic services such as energy and public broadcasting. In this context, the number of Commercial State Bodies and Non-Commercial State Bodies, including Regulators, currently under the aegis of my Department, is 18. In the case of public bodies established by Statute, the maximum, and sometimes minimum, number of persons that may be appointed to the Board is generally set out in the relevant legislation. I have set out in the table below the maximum number of persons that could be appointed to these bodies together with the upper fee level that may be paid in each case. I have in all instances brought to the attention of each body the policy initiatives of the Department of Public Expenditure in relation to the payment of Board fees, and the payment of board members’ expenses is an operational matter for each State body. In the case of Commercial State Bodies, any fees payable are not funded by the Exchequer. I have not established any new State bodies since taking office in March 2011.

The Government, on completion of a wide ranging review of State Bodies, published its decision on the rationalisation of such Bodies in Novembers, 2012. In relation to my Department, this provided that Ordnance Survey Ireland will be merged with the Property Registration Office and the Valuation Office which will, in time, see it transfer to the Department of Justice and Equality. The Digital Hub Development Agency will also be merged (initially on an administrative basis) with Dublin City Council (DCC) pending enactment of legislation.

There is also provision for certain back-office administrative functions of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) to be merged with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI).

** Staff in my Department are on the Board and no fee is applicable to them