Vol. 484 No. 3
43 Mr. Spring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on whether the resources available to the Companies Registration Office and the Companies Register are sufficient to monitor the returns of over 150,000 companies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22028/97]
Early this year, a professional consultancy study identified the need to increase the staffing complement in the Companies Registration Office (CRO) to 120. In April, the then Government accepted a recommendation from my Department to this effect. Since the transfer of the office from Dublin Castle to Parnell Square in June of this year, some 30 extra staff have been recruited. Staff now number 110, the highest number ever serving.
In addition, the CRO's IT system is being completely replaced. Work commenced on site last January, and it is expected that the changeover to the new system will be in February next year. The two principal factors which are being built into the new system are reliability and increased speed of access.
With its increased staff and improved IT resources, I am satisfied that the CRO will be in a position from the early months of next year to handle its ongoing workload and to offer a much improved service to its clients.
