State Agencies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2013

Tuesday, 5 March 2013

Questions (236)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

236. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is satisfied that adequate resources are being provided to the Ombudsman and the Standards in Public Office Commission to allow each to fully carry out their duties; if he will detail their respective budgets for 2013 and the way each compares with the past ten years; if his attention has been drawn to difficulties that may have arisen since March 2011 regarding the performance of duties in each office as a result of funding constraints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11523/13]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brendan Howlin)

I am satisfied that adequate resources are being provided to the Office of the Ombudsman and the Standards in Public Office Commission, to fully carry out their duties. The Office of the Ombudsman and the Standards in Public Office Commission are independent bodies. I am not aware of any difficulties arising in these organisations as a result of funding constraints and the organisations have undertaken their duties fully in accordance with Government budgetary policy in regard to, for example, public service pay and numbers. Information on their performances of their respective duties is published in their respective annual reports.

The budgets for the organisations for 2013 and the respective estimates and expenditure over the previous ten years are as follows:

Appropriation Account Data

	Ombudsman €'000s	SiPO €'000s	OIC** €'000s	Total €'000s
2003	2,805	756	1,502	5,063
2004	2,741	860	1,518	5,119
2005	2,983	887	1,912	5,782
2006	3,326	927	1,922	6,175
2007	3,568	1,091	1,736	6,395
2008	4,722	1,033	2,061	7,816
2009	4,726	861	1,633	7,220
2010	4,537	862	1,525	6,924
2011	4,432	861	1,500	6,793
2012	4,172	869	1,212	6,253
2013*	5,326	980	1,474	7,780

* Budget Estimate Figures - Increase is as a result of amalgamation with the Commission on Public Service Standards

** Office of the Information Commissioner/Office of the Commissioner Environmental Information

Revised Estimates Data ***

	Ombudsman €'000s	SiPO €'000s	OIC** €'000s	Total €'000s
2003	2,752	784	1,402	4,938
2004	2,893	1,059	1,570	5,522
2005	3,270	1,101	1,811	6,182
2006	5,325	1,191	1,922	8,438
2007	5,348	1,311	1,971	8,630
2008	5,512	1,233	2,033	8,778
2009	5,171	1,179	1,953	8,303
2010	5,026	1,130	1,864	8,020
2011	4,769	1,044	1,659	7,472
2012	4,712	917	1,466	7,095
2013*	5,326	980	1,474	7,780

*** Taken from Revised Estimates Volume Publications