Vol. 536 No. 4
59 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance when the proposed State claims agency will commence operations; the number of staff it will employ, including the numbers of lawyers, accountants and actuaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14304/01]
The legislative provisions relating to the establishment of the State claims agency – SCA – are contained in the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act, 2000. The arrangements for bringing the SCA into operation are proceeding both within the National Treasury Management Agency and my Department. These arrangements will be completed and the SCA established within the coming months.
As regards the number of staff which the SCA will employ, I am informed by the NTMA that arrangements are well advanced in the process of recruiting key personnel with experience at senior level in the management of personal injuries and property damage claims. Once that core group has been put in place and a final assessment is made of outstanding claims and the throughput of new claims to be delegated to it, the agency will be in a position to estimate more fully the likely number of staff it will need.
