Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 March 2019
126. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the necessary funding for the recruitment of two additional assistant legal advisers at assistant principal, AP, level for the Office of the Ombudsman will be provided. [11816/19]
View answerAs part of the annual estimates process each Vote outlines to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform its pay and non-pay requirements for the forthcoming year. This forms the basis for negotiations between both parties, and an agreed allocation for the forthcoming year.
Over the course of the 2018 and 2019 estimates processes, the Office of the Ombudsman's overall gross allocation rose by €1,314,000, which represents an increase of 12.1%. I am informed by the Office that over this period, an additional two assistant legal advisers at Assistant Principal Officer level were recruited, to complement the existing Principal Officer level legal adviser to the organisation.
The legal services unit of the Office of the Ombudsman provides legal services to the Office of the Ombudsman, the Office of the Information Commissioner, the Commissioner for Environmental Services, the Standards in Public Office Commission, the Commission for Public Service Appointments and the Referendum Commission as required.
