National Agricultural Advisory, Education and Research Authority Act, 1977

State endowment of the Authority.

48.—(1) For the purpose of assisting the Authority to carry out effectively its functions under this Act, there shall be paid to the Authority in every financial year, as may be necessary, out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas—

(a) a grant towards the expenses of the Authority in purchasing land and premises, in erecting offices and buildings and in purchasing machinery, vehicles and equipment of a capital nature, and

(b) a grant towards the other expenses of the Authority.

(2) The amount of each of those grants shall, subject to subsections (3) and (4), be determined by the Minister, with the approval of the Minister for Finance, after due consideration of any information furnished under subsection (5).

(3) The grant referred to in subsection (1) (b) shall not, subject to subsection (4), be less, in real terms, than the total amount provided by the Oireachtas in the financial year immediately preceding the date of the establishment of the Authority in respect of the activities of the Authority in the financial year to which the grant relates.

(4) For the purpose of subsection (3) “in real terms” means that full account shall be taken of any change that may have taken place in the value of money in the interval between the date of the establishment of the Authority and the commencement of the financial year to which the grant relates.

(5) The Board shall furnish to the Minister such information regarding its income and expenditure as he may from time to time require.

(6) Where there is doubt as to whether any of the items of expense mentioned in subsection (1) is or is not of a capital nature, the decision of the Minister on the matter shall be final.