Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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477. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of new agencies or State bodies that have been established under the aegis of his Department since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32254/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The Local Government Management Services Board and the Local Government Computer Services Board merged with the establishment of the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) in August 2012. The LGMA also took on the residual functions of An Chomhairle Leabharlanna, which has dissolved as of 1 November 2012. The LGMA is a central resource for the local government sector, providing, procuring and coordinating a range of support services and expertise which are most appropriately and efficiently delivered on a shared service basis at national level.

The Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency (HSCA) was established in 2012. It rationalises the functions of the National Building Agency (NBA), the Affordable Homes Partnership (AHP) and the Centre for Housing Research (CHR). The AHP and the CHR have been closed down and the NBA ceased operating in June 2011. The HSCA was set up to work with and support local authorities, approved housing bodies and my Department in the delivery of housing and housing services.

The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann to be formed and registered under the Companies Act. The Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 provided for the transfer, in part, of water services functions from 34 water services authorities to Irish Water with effect from 1 January 2014.

The Pyrite Resolution Board was established on an administrative basis in February 2013 and was placed on a statutory footing in January 2014 following the enactment of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013. The role of the Board is to oversee and direct the delivery of a cost effective pyrite remediation scheme for homeowners whose homes are affected by significant damage due to pyritic heave and where there are no other practicable options for redress. The Board will work with the Housing Agency to deliver the scheme.

Although not a State Board in the normal sense, the National Oversight and Audit Commission for Local Government was established on 1 July 2014 to provide independent scrutiny of local government performance in fulfilling national, regional and local mandates, including financial performance in respect of its financial resources.

The establishment of the NOAC is part of the reform process legislated for by the Local Government Reform Act 2014 and is a very significant development in public accountability.  The need for enhanced scrutiny of local government performance was recognised in the Action Programme for Local Government, published by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in October 2012, not least in those areas of new focus for the local government sector, particularly in terms of community and local economic development.