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Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 December 2019

Thursday, 5 December 2019

Questions (72)

Michael McGrath

Question:

72. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of open roles in the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman by functional area and position; the length time the role has remained unfilled in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51029/19]

View answer

Written answers

In December 2018 the Financial Services and pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) submitted a Workforce Plan for the period 2019 to 2023 to my Department, which included an objective analysis of the level of resources currently available to the FSPO against both current and future demand for its services. The Workforce Plan aims to address the large existing caseload which the Office inherited on 01 January 2018, along with the sustained pattern of increased demand which the office continues to experience.

Following a review of this work force plan, on the 26th March 2019, I approved a substantial increase in staff for the recruitment of an additional 35 staff members as per the following details:

Additional Posts Sanctioned (2019)

Assistant Principal

Higher Executive Officer

Executive Officer

Clerical Officer

Total

5

11

15

4

35

The sanction to recruit an additional 35 posts brings the overall approved sanction for the FSPO to 90.2. Where possible, existing panels have been used to fill vacancies as they have arisen. In addition, recruitment campaigns were undertaken in May 2019, for the grades of Executive Officer and Higher Executive Officer, and in September 2019 for the grades of Executive Officer and Clerical Officer.

Priority is being given to the filling of vacancies within the following functional areas:

- Dispute Resolution / Mediation

- Investigation / Adjudication / Legal Services

The FSPO recently filled the position of Principal Officer for the Corporate and Communications Service. The recruitment of additional resources is at an advanced stage and it is envisaged that the majority of vacancies will be filled by the 31st January 2020, as set out in the following table.

There is also a vacancy, since April 2019, for the position of Deputy Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, and it is expected that this will be filled early in the New Year.

-

Recruitment complete – Due to be filled by 31.01.20

Not yet recruited

SOH

1

0

Principal Officer

1

0

Assistant Principal

0

3

HEO

2

0

EO

13

4

CO

6

0

Total

23

7

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