Helen Keogh
Ceist:7 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the provisions, if any, he intends to make to augment the services of the Employment Equality Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment Equality Agency's Role and Staffing.
Helen Keogh
Ceist:25 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if, in view of the wider role of the Employment Equality Agency, he intends to provide extra staffing for the agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 25 together.
I have reviewed the requirements of the Employment Equality Agency in the context of its proposed wider role and the constrained budgetary position.
In 1994 a sum of £500,000 is to be allocated to the agency in respect of its activities. This represents an increase of 23 per cent on the 1993 provision and is a major boost to the resources of the agency.
I am sure the Employment Equality Agency will be pleased with the increased allocation, but does the Minister believe that it will be sufficient for the agency to fulfil its wider role when the Legal Aid Board and the family mediation service come under its aegis?
The Legal Aid Board and the family mediation service will be quite separate.
Is the Minister aware of the greater demands being placed on the agency and that to expedite matters in hand it requires the appointment of a research officer? The post has been sanctioned but the appointment has not yet been made. Does the Minister believe that the extra allocation will be sufficient to meet the demands for information and research placed on the agency?
The substantially increased allocation being provided for the agency in 1994 will be sufficient to enable it meet its targets and carry out its functions in 1994. I assure the Deputy that legal aid and mediation do not come within the ambit of the Employment Equality Agency. Separate arrangements provide for those services and the EEA has no role in that regard. The Deputy is correct in saying that perhaps the EEA will have a wider role in relation to proposed legislation to which I have referred to in the House on previous occasions. It is difficult to know exactly how the funding will work out during 1994 and the matter will be kept under continuing review.
Does the Minister intend to allow the agency greater autonomy in appointing staff? I understand one of the agency's great difficulties is that it has no specialist staff. Will the allocation allow for flexibility in regard to staff?
Once the funds are allocated to the agency there should be no difficulty in securing the staff it requires to carry out its functions. It carries out those functions in an extremely able, competent and professional manner. An increased allocation will be provided to the agency in 1994 representing a substantial 23 per cent increase on the 1993 provision. The inquiries I have made and the consultations I have had with the Employment Equality Agency indicate that those increased funds will enable it to secure all necessary advice, consultancy and research facilities to carry out its functions in its usual competent manner in 1994.
Regarding staffing, does the Minister not agree that there are areas under the aegis of the EEA where it is not sufficient for people to be transferred from other sections of the Civil Service and that there should be flexibility to allow specialist staff to be directly recruited to the agency? Such a degree of autonomy and flexibility would be a great facility for the agency.
I accept that from time to time it will be necessary to avail of specialist advice services and, perhaps, employees. Arrangements are available to provide for that and I believe the necessary funding to facilitate it will be available. The Employment Equality Agency consults with me on a regular basis and their requirements are reviewed. I intend to do all that is necessary to ensure that it is enabled to carry out its functions in a proper manner and that the staff it requires, specialist or otherwise, is made available to it.
Will the Minister——
I have allowed the Deputy some latitude. We are fighting against time and we must move on to Question No. 8.