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State Bodies Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 November 2013

Tuesday, 12 November 2013

Questions (400)

Robert Troy

Question:

400. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views regarding the sharing of administrative facilities for the Information Commissioner and the Office of the Ombudsman for Children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48226/13]

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Written answers

The Ombudsman for Children is an independent officer of the State and accounts for her statutory functions to the Oireachtas. As Minister, I have certain functions and responsibilities for the Ombudsman for Children's Office under the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002. Most notably the funding of the Ombudsman for Children's Office through the Vote of my Department.

As the Deputy is probably aware, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform published its Public Sector Reform Document on 17th November, 2011. This Public Service Reform Plan included an intention to address a wide range of issues, one of which is the implementation of shared service models for HR, payroll, pensions etc. Appendix IIa of this document lists the bodies to be rationalised, amalgamated or abolished. The document references my Department relating to the Ombudsman for Children and the intention to merge the back-office functions of the Ombudsman for Children into the Ombudsman/Information Commissioner's Office (Action No 47).

Given the current economic climate, I am conscious that we make every effort to rationalise transactional or support processes by establishing shared operations to drive greater efficiencies and process improvement.

In 2012, at the request of my Department, Ms. Emily Logan, the Ombudsman for Children, undertook a review of the potential for merging the back office functions of her Office into the Ombudsman/Information Commissioner's Office. This review included finance, human resources, information technology , office accommodation, equipment and supplies. The office currently has contracts in place for the provision of legal and also financial services such as payroll. The IT function for the office is managed on a shared service basis by the Department of Health. Limited potential was identified for sharing or merging back office functions and no potential savings were identified in that process.

More recently, in the context of wider developments in shared services, arrangements are being considered to bring HR processes for the Ombudsman for Children's Office into the civil service human resource management service known as 'People Point' in the same way as has already been done for staff of the Office of the Ombudsman/Information Commissioner. This shared service model is part of recent public sector reform initiatives announced by Government in 2011 to bring about an integrated and efficient public sector.

I am satisfied that the processes outlined shows the Ombudsman for Children to be taking full account of the objective of efficiency in back office and corporate supports and expenditures while continuing to discharge the very important statutory responsibilities set out in the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002.

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