Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
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206. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total number of Irish quasi autonomous NGO’s that his Department either created or fall under his Department’s responsibility and were in existence when he became Minister and continue to exist to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55140/13]

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. 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 2014, see it transfer to the Department of Justice and Equality, who are leading on the transfer process. The Digital Hub Development Agency will also be fully merged (already 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). The two bodies have already initiated some shared service work and are examining other areas for progression.

The Department does not have responsibility for any quasi autonomous NGOs.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
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207. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total number of chairpersons of State boards, agencies and regulators that fall under his Department’s responsibility that were chairpersons when he became Minister and continue to be chairpersons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55156/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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In total, there are 18 Commercial State Bodies and Non-Commercial State Bodies, including Regulators, currently under the aegis of my Department. Since I assumed office in March 2011 there are 4 Chairpersons who were on, and still remain on, the Board of State Bodies as their respective terms of office are not due to expire until a future date. In addition I reappointed 7 Chairpersons to particular State Boards for a second term when their initial term of office expired. A new Chairperson was appointed to the Board of the Loughs Agency by the North South Ministerial Council and I have also appointed 6 new Chairpersons to Boards since I assumed office.