asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the position regarding the dispute between his Department and the Department of Finance in relation to the staffing in the Companies Office, in order to allow extra staff to be appointed to that office to speed up the creation of companies on the basis that the increased activity would generate more than sufficient fees to pay for any extra costs involved in appointing additional staff.
Written Answers. - Companies Registration Office Staffing.
41.
There is no dispute between my Department and the Department of Finance regarding staffing levels in the Companies Registration Office.
As the Deputy is well aware, control of public service costs is a key factor in this Government's economic strategy. The Department of Industry and Commerce, along with other Government Departments are subject to the current embargo on the recruitment of staff and the filling of vacancies. As a result, my Department have suffered a reduction in staffing levels which has impacted across all sections of the Department, including the Companies Registration Office.
In his budget speech, the Minister for Finance referred to the fact that the reduction in staffing made it imperative that the public service be organised and managed in the most efficient way. In keeping with this statement, the management of the Companies office are continually reviewing existing procedures. As a result of the implementation of new procedures in relation to the formation of new companies, I understand that the backlog which had existed in this area has been virtually eliminated.