Special Development Agencies
Dublin Hub Development Agency
The Dublin Hub Development Agency Act 2003 provided for the establishment of Digital Media Development Limited as the Dublin Hub Development Agency under the auspices of the Minister for Public Enterprise.  The company had originally been established by the government in 2000 under the Department of the Taoiseach. It was transferred to the Department of Public Enterprises in 2001.
The function of the agency is to promote and facilitate the development of the digital hub as the location for digital enterprises and related activities. This also involves the formulation of strategies to encourage those engaged in digital enterprise to locate in the hub and to encourage the procurement of technical and communications infrastructure.
It is the function of the agency to prepare a development plan, estimates of the costs of its implementation and possible funding options. It is to oversee and manage the implementation of the plan. In so doing, it is to consult with local community interest groups. It is also to consult with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland.
In its development plan, the agency must outline its objectives with regard to property acquisition and management, educational provision, budget setting, planning and strategy and provision for its delivery within budget. It is to take account of the Dublin City Council’s integrated area plan for the Liberties / Coombe area.
Ministerial Role
The Minister may give directions to the agency in relation to policy matters. The Minister for Public Enterprise, with the consent of the Minister of Finance may advance monies to €80M for various purposes, including property purchase, broadband infrastructure and operating expenses.
The agency is to submit a strategic business plan and financial plans to the Minister, who is to consult with the Minister for Finance. The agency is to produce annual reports and submit them to the Minister, who is to lay them before the houses of Oireachtas.
There are 14 members of the agency, who are to be appointed by the Minister for Public Enterprise/successor, with the consent of the Minister for Finance. They are to include the Dublin City manager or his nominee. The usual State sector corporate government provisions are provided for.
There is to be a chief executive, who is to hold office on terms determined by the agency with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Finance. There are standard provisions for staff, whose terms and conditions are approved by the Department of Finance.
Grangegorman Development Agency
The Grangegorman Development Agency Act makes provision for the development of the Grangegorman facility as a location for education, health and other facilities. It establishes the Grangegorman Development Agency and defines it functions.
The Grangegorman site is intended to be developed as a modern campus for the Dublin Institute of Technology. It is to provide the Health Service Executive with certain facilities. It is to manage the development in an integrated and sustainable manner.
The agency may borrow up to €100 million, in order to cover its current and capital costs, with the approval of the Minister with the agreement of the Minister for Finance. The Minister may guarantee the repayment of monies borrowed by the agency.
Strategic Plan
The agency is to draw up a strategic plan for the development of the site. This is to contain objectives for development, including provisions for requirements of the Department of  Education and Science, the Department of Health, the DIT, HSE, the local community and the city. It is to provide onsite services, public transport requirements, property management and refurbishments, recreational facilities, R&D facilities and commercial activities.
The plan is to have regard to Dublin City Council’s development plan, as well as with views of a number of statutory bodies and other interested entities. They  are to be given an opportunity to view and comment on the draft plan before it is adopted. The agency must take account of submissions and amend the plan if appropriate.
Governance
The agency is to consist of 11 members, including a chief executive. Two are nominated by the Minister for Health, one by the president of DIT and one by the Dublin City Council city manager. The agency is to establish a consultant of a group of stakeholders, including local residents, local patients and health care service providers, Dublin City Council, DIT staff and students, HSE and certain Ministers and agencies, which the Minister may consider appropriate.
The agency is to have a chief executive. Its staff are appointed on terms approved by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance. Standard corporate public sector corporate provisions apply.
The agency may prepare a scheme for the Grangegorman site, once it is designated as a strategic development zone. The scheme is to include a written statement and a plan indicating the manner in which it has intended that the site is to be developed and any likely environmental impacts on implementing the scheme.
The NDFA legislation is amended to cover the agency. The agency may avail of the NDFA’s functions in relation to advancing money and financial arrangements. This included all aspects of financing, refinancing, and the insurance of public investment projects.