Ministerial control of Bureau spending
The Minister said the establishing order gives him broad powers over the Bureau’s spending and staffing, and offered to provide any further information sought.
asked the Minister for Health the control, if any, which he has over the manner in which the Health Education Bureau spends its financial allocation.
Comment on this
The Health Education Bureau (Establishment) Order (S.I. No. 22 of 1975) gives the Minister wide powers of control in relation to the bureau's spending of its allocation. The Order provides, inter alia, (i) that the bureau shall submit to the Minister such information regarding the performance of its functions as the Minister may from time to time require; and (ii) that the Minister may, as he thinks fit, declare that any of the powers vested in the bureau in relation to the appointment and employment of staff shall be exercisable only with his consent.
The bureau's annual budget is discussed with the Department and is submitted to me for approval, as a matter of course.
I might add that I am quite satisfied with the existing arrangements, which operate very satisfactorily.
Comment on this
I am sure the Minister is. There was an earlier question asked to which the reply fortuitously was in the form of a tabular statement so that the House has not the benefit of the information.