Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 October 2014
105. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the resources and staff allocated to the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner in tabular form for the years 2011 to date in 2014; the allocation for 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40534/14]
View answerDetails in relation to staffing and resources allocated to the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner are outlined in the table for each of the years in question.
|
Year |
Staffing |
Budget Allocation |
|
2011 |
20.9 (at end December) |
€1.45m (spend) |
|
2012 |
26.5 (at end December) |
€1.56m (spend) |
|
2013 |
28.23 (at end December) |
€1.96m (spend) |
|
2014 |
29.03 (at end September) |
€1.89m (allocation) |
|
2015 |
- |
€1.89m (provisional allocation) |
The Government indicated earlier this year that the resources of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, both staffing and financial, should be reviewed particularly in view of the very significant further demands which will be imposed on the Office by the forthcoming EU Data Protection Regulation.
Having regard to my appointment in July 2014 as Minister of State with Special Responsibility for European Affairs and Data Protection and following a Government Decision on 7 October 2014, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner will be upgraded to the status of a separate Office of State under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach.
From 2015, the Office will have its own Vote with increased resources to support these reforms. I can also confirm that the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner will open a new office in Dublin in addition to the existing office in Portarlington.
