Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 February 2022
266. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if is satisfied with the resources employed by the Office of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman; and his views on the staff numbers per million of population compared to resources employed by the UK Financial Services Ombudsman. [9776/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) is independent in the performance of her statutory functions and I have no role in the day to day workings of the office or in the decisions which she takes.
In December 2018, the FSPO submitted a Workforce Plan 2019-2023 to me and I approved the recruitment of an additional 35 staff. This basis for the additional headcount was approved due to the rising number of complaints made to the FSPO and the increasing complexity of many of these complaints, which is an appropriate way to determine the resourcing requirement of the organisation.
The FSPO and its Council continue to monitor the FSPO’s operating environment, monitoring emerging demands for its services and identifying resource and skills needs, as they arise. The FSPO supports the ongoing development of its workforce and places a strong emphasis on continuous professional development to support the delivery of its functions, as set out in its establishing legislation.
