§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consultations took place between the appropriate departments and Waterways Ireland before its 2004 budget was agreed; who was consulted; on what dates; and at what location. [HL1886]
§ Baroness AmosWaterways Ireland originally submitted its draft 2004 business plan and budget, on 28 August 2003, to the sponsoring departments, Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) in Northern Ireland and Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCRGA) in the Republic of Ireland. Following that date there was a series of telephone conversations and e-mail exchanges between the sponsor departments, the Departments of Finance and Waterways Ireland. The draft business plan and budget was discussed at an officials facilitation meeting of the Inland Waterways sector hosted by the Joint Secretariat of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) at Armagh on 7 October 2003. The attendees were directors of Waterways Ireland, and officials of DCAL, DCRGA, the two Departments of Finance, OFMDFM and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Waterways Ireland 2004 draft budget recommended a total allocation of 45.95 million euros, (£31.70 million) to the body and a Northern Ireland contribution of 13.51 million euros (£9.32 million). These figures have not changed, and were recommended by NSMC by Interim Procedure on 17 December 2003.